Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of legal fees will I have to pay?
Our legal fees vary from case to case. Criminal and traffic cases most often involve a flat attorney’s fee, plus court costs and/or case expenses. Some of our clients are billed monthly for hourly attorney time and case expenses, while others, like most environmental and personal injury cases, are handled on a contingency basis, which means that you only pay the attorney’s fees once you have collected your money. For contingency cases, the fee is generally one-third of all monies recovered (although this amount can often be lower) plus case expenses. These expenses can include medical record costs, copy and facsimile charges, and paralegal fees.

In most cases, if you do not recover compensation for your injuries, you will not owe any attorney’s fees at all. However, the out-of-pocket expenses necessary to process your claim may be your responsibility whether or not you recover money. Your billing status will be determined and explained to you after your initial consultation, once we have agreed to take your case and before you have signed a contract.

As the client, what will I have to do as we move through the legal process?
In order to successfully litigate any case, we must work together as client and attorney. For criminal and traffic cases, we can usually resolve your issues without you having to appear in court at all. For other matters, such as environmental and personal injury litigation, we will need your help gathering records and other information related to your case. In some instances, it may also be necessary for you to come into our offices. We simply ask that you be open and honest with us, maintaining communication and periodic contact.

How long will my case take?
The length of your case depends on many factors, particularly the types of issues you are facing. In some cases, such as criminal and traffic matters, it may only take a few meetings, transactions, or court appearances to reach a solution to your problem. For those matters requiring litigation, the process can sometimes be quite lengthy. However, you can trust that our attorneys and staff will be there throughout, guiding you and working our hardest to expedite and make things as easy as possible for you as you move through the litigation process.

What is a mediation?
A mediation, or mediated settlement conference, is an informal, voluntary meeting between the disputing parties in a conflict, wherein an attempt is made to reach a settlement prior to going to trial. Using the assistance of an outside, neutral party, known as the mediator, the parties identify case issues, develop possible options for resolution, and work towards an agreement.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us at (919) 754-1600.