Lawyer's charge joke

A man called his lawyer one day to ask a routine question about an ongoing matter with which both parties were familiar. The lawyer gave a quick routine answer, and the entire phone conversation took no more than 60 seconds.

The man was understandably a little dismayed to find a bill from the lawyer in his mail a few days later. The bill charged for 1/4 hour of consultation time, the minimum billing increment, at the lawyer's rate of $225 per hour. The client grumbled considerably as he wrote out the check for more than $50.

Two weeks later, while out for a walk, the client happened to walk past the lawyer's house. The lawyer was outside, watering his lawn, and waved to the client. The client walked over and said, "Nice day, isn't it? Wait a minute--DON'T ANSWER THAT!"