FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
I have flat fees for certain matters such as consumer bankruptcy (Chapters 7 and 13), transactional work (contracts, lending documents, etc.), formation of business entities, agreed divorces, and certain other matters. I do a contingency arrangement with personal injury, civil rights, and certain other plaintiff litigation. For most others (Chapter 11 bankruptcies, non-agreed divorces, large transactions, civil and commercial litigation, etc.) , I charge an hourly rate.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
The process is generally initiated via a call or e-mails. I will talk to the would-be client on the phone first to discuss generally the person's issue/matter, status of the issue, etc. I also try to get to know a little about the potential client and have them learn a little about me. If we both would like to pursue further, we'll have an initial face-to-face meeting to go into details of the problem, what can be done to fix it, fee arrangements, and to afford the potential client the opportunity to ask me questions about the issue, about my experience, or just about who I am outside of law practice. If we both want to move forward, we'll sign an attorney-client agreement and get going. I NEVER CHARGE FOR INITIAL CONSULTATIONS. Be wary of going to someone who requires you to pay them just to give them a case. We are the servants and you are the boss.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I received a Bachelor of Arts in English from East Tennessee State University in 1994, followed by a law degree (Doctor of Jurisprudence) in 1996. I began practice in a large law firm for 10 years then have been with smaller firms. I was an Assistant Law Examiner for the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners for 7 years, where I wrote and then graded part of each bar exam given in Tennessee.