How should I select a lawyer
for my case?
How
do I begin hiring a lawyer?
Will you quote a fee over the telephone?
How
does your firm determine the fees which you charge?
Can
you guarantee a favorable outcome if we hire your firm?
What kind of court experience does your firm have?
How should I select a lawyer for my case?
If your legal problem is uncontested, your decision may be
driven primarily by price.
However, if your legal problem is a contested matter, you have a
more difficult choice. You should research the selection of a
lawyer carefully. The best indicator is to try to locate and
speak with former clients of the lawyer you are considering to
handle your case. Although client matters are confidential, you
may investigate what matters the lawyer has handled recently
through publicly available websites through state and federal
court clerks.
You should consult general practice lawyers and discuss your
contested matter. These lawyers can often guide you to find
someone suited to help with your problem.
When you meet with a potential lawyer, feel free to ask about
specific experience. Ask the lawyer how many trials or appeals
he has completed, and how many cases in your specific area he
has handled.
How do I begin hiring a lawyer?
The lawyers at this firm prefer having a short telephone interview
before setting an appointment. Some times we know immediately that the
subject matter is one which we would not handle. At times we can suggest
someone we believe to be available to handle these cases, but in any
event we do not waste the potential client's time. Also, we require
identification of all of the known parties to the dispute to make sure
we have no potential conflict of interest prior to having the initial
interview.
Will you quote a fee over the telephone?
No.
The cases which this firm handles tend to be complex and to involve a
representation of a client over the course of months or even years.
We do not charge for an initial meeting to discuss potential
representation. We never quote a fee until we have had this meeting.
However, we never commence the representation until we have a mutual
understanding in writing of the fee agreement.
How does your firm determine the fees which you
charge?
After we have mutually agreed for us to handle this case, a written fee
agreement is signed by both parties.
Generally the criminal defense matters we handle are on a flat fee
basis.
The civil litigation is usually handled on an hourly basis with a
retainer deposited into escrow to cover the anticipated fees.
In some civil cases (such as personal injury, malpractice claims, or
will contests), we agree to a contingent fee. We receive a portion of
anything recovered and no fee is owed until a recovery is collected.
Can you guarantee a favorable outcome if we hire
your firm?
No.
It would be unethical and untrue to make such a promise.
We do guarantee that we will devote the time necessary to understanding
and presenting the facts and law which relate to your case and we will
do everything ethically possible to advocate for your cause.
What kind of court experience does your firm have?
We have taken more than a hundred civil and criminal cases to jury
trial.
We have handled numerous state and federal appeals.
We have handled hundreds upon hundreds of nonjury trials.
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