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CAN I SPEAK TO OR MEET WITH A LICENSED ATTORNEY PRIOR TO HIRING YOUR FIRM? You should make sure that you speak to or meet with a licensed attorney. Do not waste your time with a salesman. If you contact the Law Office of John Tatz, P.C., you will speak to and/or meet personally with me, John Tatz, an attorney who has been licensed for over 13 years. I will happily provide a FREE CONSULTATION and give you an HONEST evaluation of what I believe I may be able to do for you. CAN I MEET THE ATTORNEY WHO WOULD ACTUALLY HANDLE MY CASE? You should make sure that you speak to or meet with the attorney who will actually be handling your case, and not just the person who the firm was named after. Or worse, an unlicensed salesman. I have no associates. I will personally handle, not just oversee, all aspects of your case. On the extremely rare occasions where I have a conflict and cannot reset a court appearance in your case, I will consult with you prior to this setting and advise you about the licensed attorney who will be covering it and what they will be doing. I will do this only for administrative court appearances, never for court settings that may affect the outcome of your case. I will personally handle all trials and motion hearings in your case. HOW MUCH DO YOU CHARGE? Before taking the time to visit with a law firm, you have the right to know how much they will charge in your case. If you cannot afford it, why waste your time or my time coming in for an appointment? This amount should be based on the time that it will be necessary to spend on your case, as well as the complexity of the case. After discussing your case with you, I will happily quote you a fee over the telephone. This will not be an hourly fee, or a retainer, but a flat rate that will be charged for certain aspects of the case. Although I will not accept a case for no money down, I am willing to work out an affordable payment plan, and I do accept most major credit cards. WILL I BE INFORMED OF ALL APSECTS OF MY CASE? You have the right to a copy of everything in your case file. You also have the right to speak to your attorney and have your inquiries responded to promptly. My personal pet peeve is people who do not return phone calls. I strive to return all phone calls the same day, and always within 24 hours. Period. No excuses. I will also copy you on anything I receive or generate in your case upon your request. WILL I BE NOTIFIED OF ALL COURT DATES PROMPTLY? Contrary to popular belief, delay is not always in the accused's best interest. In some jurisdictions, advantageous plea offers expire after a certain period of time or upon your case being set for a trial. Although a thorough investigation by an attorney takes time, a law firm should never delay your case just to ensure that all of their legal fees have been collected. I will promptly notify you of all plea offers made in your case. I will promptly notify you of all court dates and whether your attendance is necessary or recommended. CALL AND COMPARE If you are not happy with the answers you receive to these and other questions from other law firms, please contact me for a free consultation. I will be happy to provide an initial consultation for no charge. |
