Why do I need
an attorney?
You need an attorney
because the legal process is
complicated and the law is a
constantly evolving thing. Only
with an experienced family law
practitioner are you protected
during litigation. Lawyers know
the rules of courts, the relevant
statutes, the body of law interpreting
those rules and statutes, and
what has been done in other cases
similar to yours.
 Can’t I use
those forms the court provides?
Certainly you can, but I do not
recommend it. Whether you hire
me or another attorney, you need
someone to guide you through
the process and help you determine
the best course of action, and
what to do when the unexpected
occurs. Forms can’t do that.
Do
you charge for telephone calls
or emails from your clients?
No, I don’t. Clients can call
my office and e-mail me as often
as they need to call or e-mail,
without worrying that I’ve started
a meter running. I want clients
to ask the questions that they
need to ask without fearing that
they will get a bill each time
they talk with me about their
case. Communication is a vital
aspect to the attorney/client
relationship.
How long will my
case take?
This depends upon
the type of case, the county
where it is filed, the complexity
of the issues, and what the other
side does. When a person hires
me, I assess many things about
their case, including my thoughts
about how long the case is likely
to take. Along the way, if it
looks as though it is going to
take longer, I talk to my client
about the reasons for the delay,
and work with my clients to help
protect their interests while
the case is pending.
What do you
charge?
I use, as much as I can,
a "value billing" system. This
means that each increment of
work costs a certain amount,
which you pay to have me do that
increment of work. My fees are
all listed in my contract. I
tell you, as closely as I can,
what I will have to do for you,
and what I recommend that I do
for you. You choose what work
I do, and you pay for the work
that you choose.
What about "hourly
billing" and "costs"?
I do not
bill by the hour in most cases.
When I determine that hourly
billing is the only reasonable
way to bill, I set the hourly
rate according to my view of
the complexity of the case, ranging
from $175.00 - $250.00 per hour.
Also, the client pays all costs
for outside vendors. I do not
charge for routine, in-house
costs such as routine copying,
postage, or long-distance. I
do charge for extraordinary in-house
costs such as preparing trial
exhibits or lengthy briefs.
I
have other questions – can I
ask them before I hire you?
Yes.
I provide a free, 30-minute consultation
during which I attempt to answer
your questions about my services.
I do not give legal advice to
people who have not yet hired
me, but I will outline my general
thoughts about the law or procedure
applicable to your case, and
try to give you enough information
about me and my services to allow
you to make a good choice as
to whether I am the right attorney
for you. |
