Fees and Rates
If an individual comes in for an initial consultation, they are charged fees based on how much time is spent in the initial consultation and the rate of the attorney in the meeting. The initial consultation rates; are the same as each attorney's hourly rates.
After the initial consultation, if the decision is made to enter a relationship, the individual will be asked to sign a written fee agreement that provides them with information such as what services; will be provided, and what the exact terms are for the firm's billing. A fee advance, which can be from $1,500.00 to $10,000.00, is determined by the attorney based upon how much work will go into a case. Upon receiving the fee advance, the money is deposited in a trust account with the firm.
Once work begins on a case, at the beginning of each month, clients receive a detailed bill laying out what work has been done on their behalf. The bill shows how much money was transferred from a client's trust to pay for the legal fees due to the firm. The client is responsible for replenishing the trust account every month for the duration of the representation unless it is agreed that replenishment is not warranted.
Besides the legal fees, there are other costs incurred such as postage, facsimile charges, and photocopying charges, though the firm does not charge for other expenses like long distance telephone calls. A client may have to pay charges directly to vendors, such as process servers and court reporters for services provided if there are not sufficient funds in the trust account to cover such costs.
Clients at our firm are charged for work on their cases at an hourly rate. These rates may be adjusted, but clients are provided notice of such an adjustment. Our attorney's hourly rates are as follows:
Catherine M. Reese
$335.00
Laurie M. Crawford
$210.00
Abbe L. Reis
$175.00