Two Tier Pricing System for Legal Services.....Anybody else noticed this?

[cyborgx]

A great thread started by joshstiles here :-

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/755693-two-tier-pricing-system-for-legal-serviceswhy/?utm_source=newsletter-20140909-0739&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news

I've dealt with tons ot foreign legal firms and lawyers here as well as some locals too. I've never tried the test mentioned by joshstiles, but I have noticed massive service fee differences between firms run by foreigners and the smaller thai companies. Yes I can understand that foreign lawyers cost more, but even in those firms most of the work is actually handed over to Thai staff once you leave the office.

A good example of this from my experience was.... After going through the paperwork with a foreign lawyer, it was handed to a Thai employee to deal with. The next thing I know, my company registration is complete and the registered address for it is my home address . It turns out that the Thai staff switched them around using Tipex (whiteout) and the form was accepted like that by the government! Anyway that's just one to watch out for...

I wouldn't be surprised if this two tired pricing is actually quite prevalent, has anybody else come across it for legal or any similar services?

[beachproperty]

....Your example ....I don't get it ....why you think its two tier pricing?????

Is it just because you had a farang lawyer who handed your paperwork to Thai's to finish up? Then get and English speaking Thai lawyer who will do the same thing!

Or was it because they made a mistake and used "whiteout" to put your home address in?

An example of two tier pricing to me would be,......if a farang went in and a price quoted was 2xxxxx vs a thai who was quoted for the same service 1xxxxx. as shown by the other post you refered to.

Why not just reply to that post if your so interested vs positng your example which really seems related to nothing!

Maybe it just me!............But think I'll sit out the rest

[evadgib]

The 'not another' brigade will be along shortly

(my understanding is that this behaviour is normal)

[samran]

Apart from a half dozen foreigners grandfathered in before the rules barring foriegners to practice law was enacted, there is no such thing as a practicing foreign lawyer in Thailand.

There are plenty of foreign legal advisors, managers, M&A and commercial specialists. But they all hand over the work to Thai lawyers for sign off given they are not recognised.

[cyborgx]

....Your example ....I don't get it ....why you think its two tier pricing?????

Is it just because you had a farang lawyer who handed your paperwork to Thai's to finish up? Then get and English speaking Thai lawyer who will do the same thing!

Or was it because they made a mistake and used "whiteout" to put your home address in?

An example of two tier pricing to me would be,......if a farang went in and a price quoted was 2xxxxx vs a thai who was quoted for the same service 1xxxxx. as shown by the other post you refered to.

Why not just reply to that post if your so interested vs positng your example which really seems related to nothing!

Maybe it just me!............But think I'll sit out the rest

Yes, perhaps you should have sat it out, or at least read the OP properly. MY example was just to demonstrate that work taken on by a foreigner in a foreign legal firm here, is still most likely to be actually done by local staff. This said, to support the idea that there is no real reason for dual pricing.

Why don't I post on the other thread? Well once again, if you took the bother to check, you CANNOT post on that thread! to if you look like this , its only because you don't check your facts before dishing out your useless questions and advice.....

[cyborgx]

Apart from a half dozen foreigners grandfathered in before the rules barring foriegners to practice law was enacted, there is no such thing as a practicing foreign lawyer in Thailand.

There are plenty of foreign legal advisors, managers, M&A and commercial specialists. But they all hand over the work to Thai lawyers for sign off given they are not recognised.

Yes that's fair comment, but I did say "foreign run". The foreign lawyers may well have work permits under the title of "advisors" or "managers" but they are still usually foreign lawyers. This is just nit picking anyway and not the crux of the issue. I'd still be interested to hear comments on the original post by joshstiles.

[samran]

Apart from a half dozen foreigners grandfathered in before the rules barring foriegners to practice law was enacted, there is no such thing as a practicing foreign lawyer in Thailand.

There are plenty of foreign legal advisors, managers, M&A and commercial specialists. But they all hand over the work to Thai lawyers for sign off given they are not recognised.

Yes that's fair comment, but I did say "foreign run". The foreign lawyers may well have work permits under the title of "advisors" or "managers" but they are still usually foreign lawyers. This is just nit picking anyway and not the crux of the issue. I'd still be interested to hear comments on the original post by joshstiles.

What is the issue then? That lawyers are going to effectively outsource the grunt work to lower cost local staff? Happens everywhere, most work is outsourced to the most junior associate. In the west, many western firms have offshored the basic legal work to back of office places.

The other thing to remember is (and cause I work along side law firms) is that the Thai local staff, especially the managers and partners, aren't usually very cheap and their charge outs would knock the socks off most people here. We are talking tens of thousands of baht per hour at your 'western' branded firm.

[beachproperty]

....Your example ....I don't get it ....why you think its two tier pricing?????

Is it just because you had a farang lawyer who handed your paperwork to Thai's to finish up? Then get and English speaking Thai lawyer who will do the same thing!

Or was it because they made a mistake and used "whiteout" to put your home address in?

An example of two tier pricing to me would be,......if a farang went in and a price quoted was 2xxxxx vs a thai who was quoted for the same service 1xxxxx. as shown by the other post you refered to.

Why not just reply to that post if your so interested vs positng your example which really seems related to nothing!

Maybe it just me!............But think I'll sit out the rest

Yes, perhaps you should have sat it out, or at least read the OP properly. MY example was just to demonstrate that work taken on by a foreigner in a foreign legal firm here, is still most likely to be actually done by local staff. This said, to support the idea that there is no real reason for dual pricing.

Why don't I post on the other thread? Well once again, if you took the bother to check, you CANNOT post on that thread! to if you look like this , its only because you don't check your facts before dishing out your useless questions and advice.....

Problem wasn't in reading your post!

Problem was with the writer and his/her ability to speak with clarity with regard to the what the "Title" inferred! I can only presume that English is your second language as your Post had NOTHING to do with what your TItle sugests! I only pointed such out!

You have responded by saying the handing off of work to a Thai is such a double pricing! Well as another poster pointed out .....Happens all over the world. Your looking for a needle in a haystack ....Try being a little clearer next time, instead of trying to blame others for you inablity to express yourself clearly!