Transparency: Clearly a Necessity

Most lawyers love to talk about transparency. Few of them actually practice it. In the traditional legal world, transparency usually means this: you’ll find out what you're being charged after you’re already on the hook for it.

Neat trick, right?

At FTE Legal, we have a different view: transparency is the bare minimum for an ethical, professional legal relationship.

If your lawyer hides their rates, buries their terms, or sends invoices that require a degree in cryptography, you’re not getting legal service—you’re getting played.

Let’s talk about what real transparency looks like.

1. Public Rates and Terms: If You Can’t See It, You Shouldn’t Sign It

Traditional firms can treat their pricing like so-called market pricing on a fancy restaurant menu. Good luck figuring out what you're actually going to owe when the bill comes.

At FTE Legal, our standard rates and service terms are posted publicly. No secret handshakes, no "call us for a quote" BS, no bait-and-switch.

You should know what you're paying before you commit, not after you're already too deep to walk away.

If your lawyer’s pricing looks like a state secret, ask yourself why.

2. Invoices That Tell a Story—Not a Riddle

Ever seen a legal invoice that says something like “miscellaneous research” for $2,400?

Translation: "We did something. We're not telling you what."

We don't do that.

Our invoices show exactly what was done, why it mattered, and what it cost—so you can actually see the connection between your dollars and the work accomplished. No vague entries. No padding. No surprises.

If we can't explain why something was billed, we don’t bill it. Period.

3. No Markup Games—What You Pay, You Pay for the Work

Here's another fun trick from the traditional model: law firms mark up third-party expenses (like filing fees, consultants, or co-counsel) and pass them along to you without blinking.

You thought you were paying $100 for a government filing? Congratulations, you just paid $175 because your lawyer decided they deserved a tip.

At FTE Legal, we never mark up third-party costs. If a filing fee is $100, you pay $100—not a penny more. We don’t believe in piggybacking off other people’s work. (You’d be amazed how controversial that idea is in some circles. More on that later.)

Work with a Fractional Counsel That Puts Transparency First

At FTE Legal, transparency isn't just a value—it’s how we operate every day.

We provide fractional general counsel services to:

Small businesses, entrepreneurs, and early-stage ventures
Startups navigating growth, funding rounds, and product launches
Corporate and commercial clients managing contracts, governance, and compliance
Nonprofit organizations and business development networks

When you work with FTE, you’ll know exactly what you’re paying for, how much it costs, and why it matters. No guesswork. No hidden fees. No fine print traps.

You get experienced legal support—formation, contracts, corporate governance, risk analysis, and day-to-day advisory—at rates and terms that are as clear as the work we deliver.