Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I have a lawyer?

As lawyers, we are trained professionals who can explain the laws and the complicated legal system to you. We can help you evaluate your options, negotiate or mediate conflicts with other people, prepare letters, court forms and other legal documents. We will also represent you in court. We offer a free one-hour initial consultation to evaluate your case.

What is a contingency fee?

A contingency fee arrangement is a method that allows many individuals who have been injured or seeking damages, such as those resulting from an auto accident or a medical malpractice case, to obtain legal representation even if they do not have money to pay a lawyer at the outset of a case.

In some types of cases, we are willing to handle matters on a "contingency basis". In such a case you do not pay legal fees unless and until you win, and then we would receive a percentage of your recovery as our fee, plus court costs. If you lose your case, there would be no legal fee for us.

What types of cases are appropriate for contingency fees?

Contingency fees are a generally accepted practice in personal injury cases stemming from automobile accidents, slip and falls or other premise liability injuries, product liability, and workers’ compensation.

What kinds of cases that cannot be handled on a contingency basis?

It is inappropriate for a lawyer, as a matter of public policy, to have a stake in certain kinds of cases. Some examples are as follows: divorce, child custody and alimony; criminal law; real estate (both commercial and residential). This list is not exhaustive, but illustrative of what you can expect.

What other types of fee agreements are common?

In addition to contingency fees, other payment arrangements include Hourly rates, Flat fees and Retainer fees. Hourly rates are perhaps the most common arrangement. Here, the attorney is paid an agreed-upon hourly rate for the hours that he or she works on a client’s case until it is resolved.

A retainer fee is typically an advance payment on the hourly rate for a given case. The lawyer puts the retainer in a special trust account and deducts from that account the cost of services as they accrue.

A flat fee agreement may be appropriate if the matter is simple and well-defined. An uncontested divorce or simple will are typical examples of types of cases where flat fee agreements are used. We will thoroughly explain the fee arrangement to our clients before we begin work on any case.