Your Prospective Clients Are Getting Wrong Answers About Practice Areas, Consultation Fees, and Legal Processes

Our family law practice handles the following matter types as described in the practice area guide: (1) Divorce and legal separation — including contested and uncontested proceedings, property division, and spousal support. (2) Child custody and visitation — establishment, modification, and enforcement of custody and parenting time orders. (3) Child support — establishment, modification, and enforcement of child support obligations. (4) Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements — drafting, review, and negotiation. (5) Domestic violence — protective orders and related family court proceedings. Initial consultations are available for all family law matters — see the consultation guide for scheduling information, what to bring to your first meeting, and applicable consultation fees. Contact the intake team to schedule or to ask whether your specific situation falls within our practice areas.

To schedule an initial consultation for an employment matter, contact the intake team by phone or through the online consultation request form on our website. Employment law consultations are offered in-person and virtually. The consultation fee for employment matters is listed in the fee schedule — a portion of the consultation fee is credited toward the retainer if you engage the firm. Please bring the following to your consultation: a written summary of the key events and dates, any relevant employment documents (offer letter, employment contract, employee handbook, termination letter, performance reviews), correspondence related to the dispute, and any filings or notices you have received. See the intake guide for the complete consultation preparation checklist. Do not share case details, Social Security numbers, or other sensitive personal information in this chat — provide those directly to the intake team during your consultation.

Billing structures vary by practice area and matter type as described in the fee schedule: (1) Hourly billing — applies to most litigation and complex matters. Hourly rates vary by attorney experience level and are detailed in the fee schedule. (2) Flat fees — available for certain defined-scope matters including uncontested divorces, simple wills, business formation, and specific transactional work. Flat fee amounts are listed in the fee schedule by matter type. (3) Contingency — available for personal injury and certain employment matters. Terms are detailed in the contingency fee agreement. Retainer requirements, billing cycles, and payment plan options are described in the billing policy. The firm accepts the payment methods listed in the fee schedule. Contact the billing department for questions about your specific matter or to discuss payment arrangements.

The general process for a personal injury claim, as outlined in the client guide, follows these typical stages: (1) Initial consultation and case evaluation — the attorney reviews the facts and determines if the firm can assist. (2) Investigation and evidence gathering — collection of medical records, accident reports, witness statements, and expert opinions. (3) Demand and negotiation — a demand letter is sent to the opposing party or insurance company, followed by negotiation toward a settlement. (4) Litigation (if necessary) — if a fair settlement cannot be reached, a lawsuit is filed. This includes discovery, depositions, and potentially trial. The client guide notes that most personal injury matters resolve in the negotiation or early litigation phase. Timelines vary significantly based on case complexity, severity of injuries, and court scheduling — the assigned attorney provides case-specific timeline estimates during representation. See the client guide for more detail on each stage and what to expect.

For an estate planning consultation, the preparation checklist in the estate planning guide recommends bringing: (1) Identification — government-issued photo ID for all parties involved. (2) Financial documents — recent statements for bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, and outstanding debts or mortgages. (3) Property information — deeds, titles, or descriptions of real estate and significant personal property. (4) Existing estate planning documents — any current will, trust, power of attorney, healthcare directive, or beneficiary designations. (5) Family information — names, dates of birth, and contact information for intended beneficiaries, guardians, and agents. (6) Insurance policies — life insurance, long-term care, and any relevant policy details. The estate planning guide includes the complete preparation checklist and a description of common estate planning documents. Contact the intake team to schedule your estate planning consultation.

I’m not able to provide legal advice, including whether you have a viable legal claim, the strength or likelihood of success of a potential case, what legal strategy to pursue, how to interpret laws or regulations as applied to your specific situation, what damages you might recover, whether specific conduct was unlawful, or how a statute of limitations applies to your circumstances. These assessments require a licensed attorney who can review the specific facts, applicable laws, and jurisdiction of your situation. I can help you with published information from our firm — for example, I can look up the types of employment law matters our firm handles, our consultation process and how to schedule an initial case evaluation, what to bring to an employment law consultation, our fee structure for employment matters, and general information about the employment law process from our client guide. Would you like me to look up the consultation process for employment law matters?