Why do many lawyers charge an initial consultation fee? 

Lawyers have two things to sell: their advice and their time.  Every client and every case is important to a lawyer, but there are only so many hours in a day.  Every minute a lawyer spends on one case is time that could have been spent in service to another.  It is this limit on time that requires lawyers, in some cases, to charge a consultation fee. 

What do you charge for a consultation fee and what is your hourly rate?

In those types of cases in which we charge an initial consultation fee, our fee is $250.  Our hourly rate is $295 per hour, charged in quarter hour increments.  We may also offer other payment options that are discussed on our fees page.   

What do I get in the initial consultation?

A principal attorney of our law firm (not an associate) will:

•  review any documents you provide about your case;

• discuss your case with you;

• provide you with answers to your questions; and

• provide you legal advice, options, and strategies based upon the information you provide.

Knowledge is power, and we strive to provide you with as much knowledge about your case as we can.  It is our goal to help you understand the strengths and weaknesses of your case, understand the other side’s perspective and motivations, evaluate the risks of your case, and use this information to develop a case strategy and make sound decisions. 

Some lawyers put a time limit on their initial consultation.  Do you?

Generally, there is no time limit on our initial consultation.  Every case is different.  It has its own unique facts and circumstances.  Some cases are simple and require less time to discuss; others are complex and require more time to evaluate.  We strive to give each and every client the time and attention needed to fully discuss the case.  We believe it is a mistake to push a consult too quickly, as key details can be missed or not discussed if there are arbitrary deadlines on this meeting.  We want you to leave our offices confident that we have discussed your case as fully as possible on this initial visit, confident you understand your case, and confident you have wisely invested your time and resources. 

If I want to retain your firm, what is the retainer and is the retainer refundable?

A retainer is a deposit that we bill against when working on your case.  The amount of a retainer varies, depending upon the complexity of your case.  The retainer is set by the attorney after consulting with you.  There is no way to evaluate a reasonable and appropriate retainer without understanding your case and the time demands it will require.  This is why we are not able to simply quote a retainer without discussing your case with you.  Some attorneys charge a “non-refundable” retainer.  We do not.  In cases where we require a retainer, if the work is complete before the retainer is exhausted, we refund any remaining balance to you.  We do not charge any fee we have not earned.