Editorial: Demand disclosure on legal contracts
Montgomery Advertiser
July 13, 2009
The state sometimes hires outside lawyers for complex or unusual legal matters, and that is often a sensible move. There are legal cases that call for expertise not available among agency staff attorneys, for example, or other instances in which retaining outside counsel is justified.
However, regardless of the particular situation, the people of the state deserve to know what these lawyers are being paid, even if their compensation is determined on a contingency basis. These lawyers represent the state, its people and its interests.
