Skyking-I know exactly what you are referring to. I had a similar problem on my appeal.

The way the court decides attorneys' fees is neither fair nor informed. It is skewed in favor of the attorney(s), and they know it. The government really needs to reform how the fee is handled, but I truly doubt it ever will be, as no one is interested in making sure the disabled aren't being taken advantage of by their legal representatives.

I hope you are able to block your attorney's efforts to make a mint off of your case. I wasn't able to.

And it has nothing to do with 'signing a contract'. You expect to pay a fair price for a service rendered, and not an exorbitant fee. But the government takes our money and does what they will with it, despite the facts. That is neither fair nor just, and we are right to be upset by it.