About Our Firm

You have probably contacted other attorneys or may do so after you visit our website. We don’t pretend to know what every potential client wants in an attorney, but we have the experience and knowledge to know a few basic principles you should adhere to before hiring an attorney:

• Be wary of attorneys that make unequivocal promises: Some attorneys will make promises to get your business. Few cases however are slam-dunk cases. We will tell you how your case could resolve, but we don’t believe in painting a rosy picture if….well, the picture isn’t rosy.
• Be wary of a confusing fee structure: Admittedly, the total legal fees you pay to any attorney is often uncertain, for numerous reasons. But you should understand the fee structure and should demand an explanation for a given fee structure. We strive to be transparent on fee structures.
• Ensure an attorney has experience with cases like yours: Ensure that the attorney you contact regularly takes cases like yours. Contrary to what you might think, there are many, many areas of law, each of which is relatively specialized. You wouldn’t go to an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor to diagnose your foot pains. Don’t go to a personal injury attorney if they don’t have experience as a tax lawyer.

• We have three primary mechanisms for collecting your fee. The first, and most common, is a retainer. With a retainer, you pay a fixed amount up front which is then deposited into a trust account. As the case progresses, we bill our time against your money in the trust account. At the end of every month, we will transfer money earned into our business checking account as a payment for our services. You will be notified when this occurs and will receive a statement with the remaining balance of your retainer payment. Once the retainer gets low, you may be asked to replenish it. However, if your case concludes with money left in your retainer, you will receive a check for the remaining balance. Various courts costs and filing fees will typically also be taken out of your retainer balance.
• The second mechanism is a flat rate. With a flat rate, we charge a set amount at the onset of a case, and regardless of the time spent, this will be the total amount you will owe to us. Occasionally, we will make it clear that additional flat fees will be owed, but we are transparent about this and don’t hide the ball. You will not receive a refund for the fee should you choose to hire another attorney mid-way through the process or if the case gets dismissed. You might be asked to pay for filing fees, court costs and other expenses (like expert witnesses) out of pocket in addition to the amount you pay as a flat rate. This arrangement is common with criminal cases.
• The last mechanism is a contingency fee. If a contingency fee is in place, we only get paid if you do. This is rarely utilized in our firm. Contingencies fees are highly regulated by the State Bar and can only be used in certain circumstances. As we do not typically take cases that allow for this arrangement, it is impossible for us to take most cases on a contingency basis.