I have several different modes of pricing my services: 1) hourly rate, 2) flat fee for specific service, and 3) hourly rate up to a capped maximum. As a patent attorney I provide a highly specialized legal service, one that requires passing a specialized bar examination in order to be able to offer the service. Unlike medicine where the are several recognized specialties, there are are only two legally recognized specialties in the law: maritime law and patent law.