The story goes that when Abe Lincoln was a young lawyer, he was retained to handle a difficult case. After the fee was negotiated the client asked if he could pay when the case was concluded. Lincoln reportedly replied, "I find it's best if the client pays the fee at the beginning of the case. That way the client knows he has a lawyer and the lawyer knows he has a client."

I don't know whether old Abe actually said that or not, but I find it's best to be up front and frank about fees. Truth is, there is just no getting around the fact that prosecuting a personal injury claim or defending a criminal accusation costs money. When you hire an attorney you have a right to know and understand the fee arrangements ahead of time. I use a written attorney-client agreement in virtually all cases. This way you know how the fee is calculated and when and how it is to be paid. Obviously, fee arrangements vary depending on the case and the client. But, like most lawyers I generally charge contingency fees when prosecuting injury and death claims, flat fees in defending criminal matters and hourly rates in other matters.

Consultation fee
Unlike some lawyers I normally charge a consultation fee of $50. I do this because I want to spend our first session listening to you, learning about your case and outlining the parameters of your problem; not trying to sell myself.

Injury and death claims
In most injury and death claims, I charge a contingent fee, plus out-of-pocket expenses. In extremely meritorious cases, I advance the out-of-pocket costs of litigation. This means I receive a percentage of the amount of money damages I recover for you, plus the expenses incurred in obtaining the recovery. If I do not recover any money damages for you, you are not responsible for any attorney fee and are only responsible for out-of-pocket expenses. Contingent fees work well for clients in these cases. When you are injured, or when a loved one is lost in an accident, there is usually a substantial loss of family income. Rarely are there adequate funds available to finance a lawsuit with the attendant costs of investigation and prosecution, against a determined defendant like a big corporation or insurance company. Big corporations, the government and insurance companies can afford to fight. Most individuals can't, especially when they have been injured and are out of work. Contingent fees allow people who would not ordinarily be able to pursue a serious claim for money damages to vigorously pursue compensation for their injury or loss of a loved one.

Criminal cases
My normal practice is to charge a flat fee plus out-of-pocket expenses in criminal cases. Flat fees work well for clients in criminal cases. The client knows ahead of time exactly what his legal fees (less out-of-pocket expenses) will be. This allows the client to vigorously pursue vindication of his rights all the way through trial if necessary without worrying about whether he is running up a tab in legal fees that he cannot ultimately pay. Normally the fee is paid in full when I am retained, and expenses are billed monthly as they are incurred. When financing is necessary, several options are available: First our office accepts MasterCard and Visa, and can bill your credit card directly. Second, the client can secure a loan from a bank, credit union or lending company. And in other cases, I will work out a payment plan with the client.

Out of Pocket Expenses
Out-of-pocket and litigation expenses include things like investigator and expert witness fees, costs for transcripts, depositions, photographs, exhibits, court costs, filing fees, long distance charges and copy costs.

Our office accepts Visa and MasterCard.