Many people are anxious when dealing with legal expenses because some attorneys never explain how they arrive at their fees or what the client is receiving in exchange for the money.  Here is what we can tell you from new clients meeting with us:

They describe other attorneys quoting a sum of money usually called a “retainer” to be paid upfront.  The client goes home not knowing whether the funds just deposited represent complete payment for the lawyer’s services, a fourth of it, a half or what.  The client may not know that costs are not included in the fees, but are billed separately as reimbursement for expenses the lawyer incurs in the course of preparing the case.

“How much is it going to cost?” Fees are something to talk about only after you’ve discussed your case. No good attorney can quote a fee without knowing what your case is all about. Beware of “flat fees.” They have a way of ballooning after you’ve been hooked. There is no flat fee for most divorces, DUIs, and criminal cases. A fair fee is tied to the time it takes to resolve your problem. The less you pay, the less time a lawyer can give to your case. We base fees on the estimated time needed to handle it correctly. We offer Pay-as-You-Go plans, MasterCard, Discover and Visa. We put fee agreements in writing. No surprises, no misunderstandings.