Legal Services

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. An attorney-client relationship is sacred and requires mutual understanding and trust. It is important to meet in person and get a feel for the attorney and whether you feel that the relationship will be a good one. A good personal realtionship with your attorney is crucial to achieving your goals. You must feel that you can trust your attorney!

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. Attorneys work very hard, and they have more than one client. As a consumer, I used to have unrealistic expectations of my attorney- I thought I was their only client! Now, as a practitioner, I see that there is so much more to the situation. You want your attorney to give your case careful, well thought out attention, so please be patient and thoughtful when your attorney has to direct their attention to other cases. The legal profession is deadline-driven, meaning that we must work our client's cases according to the deadlines set by the court. That means that those cases whose deadlines are due will be the ones we direct our attention to first. Every case is equally important, but even more important to remember is that we do not want to upset a judge. :)

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. You should as about experience and qualifications as well as real life experience. Board Certification is not as big of a deal as some people believe it is- Board Certification is a process that some attorneys choose to go through and some do not. The best way to get a feel for an attorney is to talk to them face to face and ask questions about your case. A good attorney will NEVER guarantee you an outcome, but will give you their opinion. You need to be comfortable with the attorney you hire. If you don't feel at ease, then they are probably the right fit for you.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. Before seeking an attorney, you need to know your budget and have realistic expectations. Our justice system does not move at the speed of light...in fact, at times it is more like the speed of a turtle. :) Also, you need to be prepared to accept that most cases take a minimum of 6 months to conclude, and many of them can take up to 2 years. You will need to be able to weigh benefits vs. risks when budgeting for a lawsuit. Sometimes, it simply isn't worth the money you will spend even if it is about the principle. A good attorney will tell you if it makes good economic sense to puruse a case. Lawsuits take time and money, so make sure you weight the pros and cons beforehand.