Criminal Cases

     Our fees are charged on a flat fee basis, because it is our experience that clients prefer to know their legal costs in advance.  This is not surprising, since many industries conduct business that way.  For example, people who take their car to a mechanic simply want to know how much it's going to cost to fix their car.  They are not particularly concerned with how much the mechanic is going to make per hour.  They just want to know how much they're going to have to pay to get their car back.  Similarly, we've found that people just want to know how much they're going to have to pay in legal fees.  As a result, charges for all of our legal services are calculated up front on a "flat fee" basis rather than an hourly basis.  Those charges are provided in advance to each client. 

     Our flat fees are calculated on a "staggered" flat fee basis.  That is, clients make either one or two predetermined payments depending upon how far along the court process their case proceeds.  We believe that this method is more fair than simply charging each client the same amount regardless of whether or not his case is resolved early.

     Each client is charged a basic one-time flat fee at the beginning of his case.  The amount of that fee is determined by the nature and number of criminal charges involved.  If the case is resolved early in the proceedings (in other words, without entry of a not-guilty plea, preparation for pre-trial motions, or trial), then there are no additional charges for legal fees.  Otherwise, an additional one-time fee is charged which covers the remainder of the case. 

     In some cases that proceed to trial (or pre-trial motions), there can be additional expenses to be paid to outside service providers such as private investigators and expert witnesses.  Such additional expenses are paid directly from the client to the service provider, with no financial involvment (or gain) by our office.  Such expenses, if necessary, are in addition to any legal fees paid to our office.

Employment Cases

     Due to the varied nature of employment law cases, it is not feasible to calculate legal fees on a flat fee basis.  Our legal fees in employment cases are generally charged on an hourly basis ($175 per hour).  However, some cases are handled on a contingency basis.  Under the contingency method, clients are not billed on an hourly basis.  Rather, the attorney is entitled to payment of a certain portion (usually 33% to 40%) of the any proceeds recovered in the case.  If there are no proceeds recovered in the case, the attorney receives no legal fees.  The contingency-based fee is the "no legal fees unless you win" method typically shown on TV commercials for personal injury attorneys.

     Just as in criminal cases, in employment law cases there can be additional expenses to be paid to outside service providers such as private investigators and expert witnesses.  Such additional expenses are paid directly from the client to the service provider, with no financial involvment (or gain) by our office.  Such expenses, if necessary, are in addition to any legal fees paid to our office.