system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: what stops the lawyers from over-billing you?

Example: a lawyer with a $300/hour rate works at your request on some document and then bills you $2400 claiming that it took him 8 hours. Is there a system that stops the lawyer from quickly finishing your work in 4 hours and billing you for 8?
gpt
In principle, this would be a fraudulent billing practice and a breach of contract. In practice, it would be very difficult for you to substantiate and way more expensive to sue over rather than just paying. Realistically, lawyers who blatantly overcharge are held in check by the fact that people will just use other lawyers.