Timely On-Budget Results
Photo credit: Visit Pensacola / visitpensacola.com
“How much is it going to cost me?” is a question I am comfortable discussing with you. It is actually a question I need to answer and we need to agree upon prior to me commencing any services for which I expect to be paid.
Timely on budget results are what we both aim to achieve. I preferred to offer fixed pricing and its reasonable variables when at all possible.
I do my best to give you an initial estimate of the range of the fees you can expect for the completion of a project. For example, $1,500 to $2,000. This range always includes me delivering the best service and most efficient service possible.
All services are based on hourly rate from $275 to $350 per hour depending on the nature and scope work to be performed. See the details of My Money Saving Referral Program below.
Retainers are commonly requested. Any requested retainer will be between 50 to 100 percent of the specified fee. We can discuss a so-called “front-end retainer” or a “back-end retainer.” A front-end retainer gets applied to fees and costs as incurred and the retainer replenished as needed. A back-end retainer is applied to the final invoice for services and all services until that time are regularly billed and paid on a monthly or other periodic basis.
In some cases, you might just need a simple review of contracts, leases or other agreements to point out potential major issues, obstacles or areas of needed improvement. Please feel free to request that I spend not more than a designated amount of time (for example, 90 minutes) on such a review so you can stay within your budget on that matter.
The sample retainer provisions and privacy provisions below will give you a better idea of my terms and conditions of engagement.
You can actually specify the hourly rate is $275 for a task by being referred to me by your certified public accountant, financial professional, banker, lawyer, former clients and even mutual friends and acquaintances.
In addition, I also spend 30 minutes of so with you free of charge if the referral is confirmed before we start moving forward. This time permits me to gather more information regarding your needs and sharpen the work needed for best results and the corresponding cost estimate(s).
All you need to do is have them send me an email or call me to let me know to expect your call. You can also just provide me their contact info when we first talk about your project so I can send them a thank you note for sending you my way for help.
We anticipate that the fee for our legal services should be $ _________ under normal circumstances.
Such fee takes into account the amount of time we anticipate spending on this matter, the time frame in which services are to be performed, the sophistication of this matter and the expertise required to accomplish it in good order. This is our good-faith estimate based upon the work you desire for us to perform and the facts and circumstances involved in this matter as you have represented them to us.
We undertake all reasonable efforts and opportunities to assure that our final bill for our fee is in accordance with the above estimate. In some cases, however, it is necessary for us to expend additional time and expense to complete this matter in a manner which is in your best interest and fully satisfactory to you.
In the event that we are required to undertake additional efforts on your behalf to resolve additional legal issues arising as we proceed, prepare additional documents or excessive revisions due to your changes, necessary consultation with your other financial consultants, accountants or brokers, or encounter circumstances beyond our control, your final bill for our services may be higher. We generally bill my time in excess of the estimate set forth above at $________ per hour.
All costs and expenses (such as copies, faxes, etc.) will be billed to you separately and in addition to the above estimate.
Our representation policies include the requirement of prompt payment of all interim bills after receipt of our invoice. We understand, however, there are occasional circumstances where immediate payment is not possible and alternative arrangements should be discussed with us in confidence.
A monthly service charge based on a per annum rate of eighteen percent (18%) will be added to any outstanding invoices which are not paid upon execution of these documents or within twenty-five (25) calendar days of the invoice date.
We reserve the right to withdraw from representation of you in this matter and cease work in the event any invoice becomes more than thirty (30) days overdue.
This letter confirms that we have/have not taken a deposit toward advance fees and costs. Should it become necessary for us to request such a deposit at any time in the future, we will work with you to reach a mutually agreeable amount.
We collect, retain and use information about you and members of your family only to the extent we believe is necessary to provide you with legal services. We receive information from you or through accountants, brokers and financial institutions on applications or other forms. The information we collect includes personal information such as your name, address and social security number; financial information such as your income, gross estate or business value; and under certain circumstances, health information such as information about an illness, disability or injury.
We adhere to the utmost standards of the attorney-client privilege and do not disclose nonpublic personal information about you without your consent. However, in some circumstances we may disclose information to others without your prior authorization. The most common disclosures are to the following persons:
We restrict access to nonpublic personal information about you to our attorneys and employees. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with federal and state laws and regulations to guard your nonpublic personal information.
Upon your written (or in some cases verbal) request, we will send you a copy of the information we have gathered in connection with your legal matters. If you feel that our information is incorrect for any reason, let us know and we will review it immediately.
We may choose to modify our policy regarding the treatment of personal information at any time. Before we do so, we will notify you and provide an updated notice. Please note that it is highly unlikely for the contents of this policy to change unless we are required to do so by law. The attorney-client privilege will never be undermined in any way.