Flexible, Client-Centered Fee Arrangements
My fee arrangements and policies are flexible. Here are my standard practices.
All initial consultations are free until we reach agreement on fees. When you call me before I have agreed to represent you and we speak on the phone, you will not be running up a bill. There comes a time when I will tell you directly that, from that point forward, I will need to be on the clock — at which point you can agree or not, with no obligation.
For most of my work I charge an hourly rate, billed in increments of 1/10 of an hour, plus out-of-pocket costs. I often do not bill for the first half-hour to an hour while learning about and analyzing your case, so you can call me without fear of immediately incurring a fee.
I will generally speak to a prospective client on the phone without charge for at least a few minutes, and usually much longer, in order to determine what kind of problem you have and whether I think I can help you. Often, if it is not a matter where I think I will be able to help you, but there is some obvious advice I can give, I will give it — no charge. If it is a potential contingency fee case, I will consult with you until I either decide I want to offer representation or I do not. In either case, no obligation for fees is incurred.
I generally expect to handle plaintiff employment claims on contingency. That means the client does not owe me fees unless I recover money or obtain some other agreed-upon result, such as reinstatement to employment. However, I expect even my contingency-fee employment plaintiffs to pay out-of-pocket costs as they are incurred. By way of example, the initial filing fee for a lawsuit in Circuit Court is $400.00, and the fee for serving the initial papers is usually around $40.00.
I sometimes agree to take non-employment cases on contingency, but I generally expect them to be hourly. I am sometimes open to “blended” fee arrangements, where I am paid at a reduced hourly rate as the case progresses, plus a percentage of the recovery at the end in the event of a successful outcome. Generally, these are business litigation cases where I feel the merits are particularly strong and the client is unable to reasonably afford full hourly rates.
I will often propose a flat fee for reviewing a contract, rarely in other circumstances, and virtually never for a litigation matter.
There is no obligation until we come to an agreement. You can call me and I will discuss your situation without charge for so long as I think it is productive and worthwhile.