Initial Case Consultation
We are aware that many people need to see a lawyer for immediate advice. We are also aware that people need to conserve money. Our consultations provide:
- Information that you want without waiting for weeks to see a lawyer
- Reasonable consultation fees, with no further obligation
- Evenings and weekends are often conveniently available
We will tell you what information we need. In the meantime, make a record of everything that happens, and do not panic.
Please, NEVER discuss the case with anyone, or sign anything, until you have met with your attorney. Resist the temptation to convince others; that seldom works in real life.
The more information
we have, the more we can help.
You CAN afford a consultation. We do these frequently in
DCF and Juvenile Court work. If you already have a
lawyer, we will consult as a second opinion if you wish.
Our goal is to help the client whenever possible. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer free brief consultations. With the volume of people who need DCF help, free consultations would create an endless line at the door, and it would be impossible to get the required work done correctly.
I recall a couple who came to me in early 2008. Their lawyer had offered them a free initial consultation. They drove 40 minutes to his office, stayed for a 10-minute free consultation, and then drove 40 minutes back home. The "free consultation" consisted of the lawyer's statement that they should cooperate with DCF, that he would meet the couple at the next DCF home visit, and that he would charge them $800.00 for the privilege. He had not asked for the case documents, had not read them and had no intention of reading them prior to the home visit; or even after the visit, so far as I can tell. In other words, his free consultation was worth exactly that - nothing.
We do not take on work that we cannot do properly. That includes a real interview and document review. Therefore, there must be a nominal charge for consultations. We do our best to make these affordable.