Questions You May Have Before Your Business Law Consultation
Whether you have already scheduled a free consultation with our team, or are thinking about doing so, you may have questions about what to expect and how to move forward. We hope these frequently asked questions/concerns will be helpful, and we look forward to seeing you at your appointment!
Who will I be meeting with?In most cases, you will be meeting with one of our consultants, who specialize in the initial intake and onboarding for new and prospective clients. Their role is to gather the relevant facts from you, make sure that what you need is something we can help you with, and help you understand your options moving forward. If you decide to retain the firm, they have a continuing role transitioning your matter to the assigned attorney, so that everyone has the information they need to proceed.
Is there any cost to the consult?Absolutely not. There are never any fees due to our firm unless and until you decide to retain us and agree on the fees applicable to your case.
Is the information I provide confidential?Yes- we treat the initial consultation as protected by the attorney-client privilege, even if you do not decide to become a client. This means, subject to some limited exceptions that have literally never applied in our estate planning practice, we are not permitted to share information you give to us outside of the firm without your consent. Please do let us know if there is anyone in your immediate family who does not know you are consulting with us, so we can be sure to avoid sending correspondence to a shared address.
What if I just need the answers to a few simple questions?We understand that- the truth is, most of these one or two questions turn out to be part of a larger story, and a larger range of options, than you might think. For example, it is one thing to explain to you the rules around employee compensation or termination, but another to explore with you the facts about your employees and how those rules apply to them.
How quickly can I speak to an attorney if I hire the firm?The short answer is as quickly as the needs of your case require. Even though the attorneys are not in the consultation itself, we are in daily communication with our consultants, and every morning discuss new cases, assignments, and any imminent deadlines. Usually you will have your first conversation with your assigned attorney within a few business days, but if there is a need to accelerate that process, we absolutely will.
Why is the attorney not involved in the consultation?We have found over the years that our clients (including you if you choose to hire the firm) are best served if our attorneys are focused exclusively on being attorneys and handling our clients' legal matters.
What if I want an in-person consultation?No problem- we have found over the last two and a half years that zoom is a real timesaver for clients, and allows us to have the face to face contact we need to serve you the best. If you prefer an in person meeting, however, just let our phone staff know and they will schedule you accordingly.
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Jenna Ordway
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Can I get information about cost before doing a consultation?
This is always a hard question to answer, because the cost to you is going to depend on what exactly you need to achieve your goals with your estate plan. We can say the following:
- You will never have to pay for the consultation.
- Most of our estate planning matters are done on a flat fee basis, depending on which documents you choose to have prepared. We collect only the first third at the time of engagement, the second payment after you and the attorney have reached agreement on the documents you need and before drafting begins, and the final third on execution of the final documents. If you need to space these payments out differently, we are happy to work with you.
- If you retain us on an hourly basis, you can expect that your attorney will check in with you before putting in more than a few hours of work on your matter to make sure you understand the strategy and plan and approve any additional time.
We look forward to meeting you!
