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Statement of Policy on Attorney-Client Relationship
We enter into a specific fee arrangement with each of our clients. Although many fee arrangements are based upon the value of the legal services performed based on the factors listed below, the firm encourages clients and prospective clients to discuss alternative billing arrangements. This page provides some general information concerning our fees.
How Fees are Determined
We keep records of the hours we spend in performing legal services for each client. However, the exercise of professional judgment is one of the factors that distinguishes the lawyer from other trades and occupations and is a matter not measurable by hourly rates alone. The Rules of Professional Conduct state that among the factors to be considered in determining fees are the time and labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved, the skill required to perform the legal services, the effect of the particular employment on other matters, the amount involved, the results obtained, the time limitations imposed by the client or circumstances, and the experience, reputation and ability of the lawyer performing the services.
In some types of cases, with the agreement of our clients, the fee is a percentage of the amount recovered or the value of the property that is the subject matter of our employment. Such fees are customary in personal injury and property damage cases, collection work, real estate transactions and the settlement of estates. Contingent fee and other alternative fee arrangements are documented in writing.
For certain services there is a minimum fee such as those charged for each letter and each telephone call and other standard services. As the service becomes more complex, the time and requisite skill increase and so does the fee.
We generally request a retainer against which we will apply our regular billing. This retainer permits us to undertake the responsibility of representation in a matter and precludes us from undertaking employment in the same matter. By payment of this retainer, our client grants permission to the firm to draw against the funds to pay our invoices as they are issued.
The firm includes lawyers with differing areas of expertise and amounts of experience. The client's contact attorney will often perform most of the work for the client. However, we will assign legal work to other lawyers or legal assistants in our firm when that is desirable.
Our rates for lawyers and legal assistants are reviewed periodically. Please telephone, write, or E-mail for a current hourly rate schedule. Our statements to our clients will reflect the rates in effect at the time the service was performed. Our general practice is to bill monthly. At the conclusion of the work, we render a final bill based upon the factors described above. When we represent a client on a percentage basis, we generally render the bill for our services at the conclusion of the work. All fees, charges and costs are due upon presentation of our statement and interest upon overdue statements accrues at one and one-half percent per month. We do accept certain credit cards for payment of services rendered.
Costs Advanced
Legal matters often require expenses other than professional fees such as out-of-pocket costs. We expect clients to pay for charges and out-of-pocket costs directly related to the matter and these items will be billed as soon as determined. These items include filing fees, transcript costs, long distance telephones charges, facsimile charges, postage, courier and delivery expenses, travel expenses, photocopy charges, expert witness fees and the like. In those matters which normally entail known costs, we generally ask for a retainer or deposit as an advance against such charges. Cost billings will be immediately credited against this deposit, but clients are expected to pay the statements as rendered in order to maintain the level of advance until it becomes apparent that the deposit will be adequate to cover anticipated future costs. Any unused portion will be returned upon the completion or termination of our services.
Telephone Calls
There will be times when a lawyer to whom a client wishes to speak is out of the office, in court, at meetings, or otherwise unavailable to answer the phone. At such time, our clients should feel confident in talking to the lawyer's secretary, who is a professional and can pass on information to the lawyer. If the question does not require legal advice, the secretary may be able to provide the answer. If a client has questions that require an answer from a lawyer, the client may leave a detailed message on that lawyer's voice mail and the call will be returned as soon as possible.
Termination of the Relationship
Clients have the right at all times to terminate our firm's services upon notice to that effect. Because of the nature of the attorney-client relationship, a clients' termination of our employment should be in writing, or if made orally, should be promptly confirmed in writing. Conversely, an engagement may be terminated by us at any time, subject to our obligations under the Rules of Professional Conduct.
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