Below are some frequently asked questions to help answer some of the general questions you might have prior to meeting with SandLaw. If you would like to contact SandLaw regarding your case, please email or call us at (303) 257-9214. The content on our website has been prepared for informational purposes only.
Q: What do attorneys do?
A: Attorneys give people advice about their rights and remedies under the law based on the facts, or evidence, in a given situation. The lawyer’s advice is based on their knowledge of the law and experience in applying that law to the facts. There is usually no one right way to handle most situations and there are no guaranteed outcomes in litigation, which is why negotiation and settlement is often a better way to proceed than a courtroom battle. Experience counts. Attorneys can be like mechanics in that people come to them for preventative maintenance (drafting wills, contract review, etc.) or when things have already broken down (criminal charges, a divorce, etc.).
Q: How do I know if I need an attorney?
A: The simple answer is that you should consult with an attorney if an attorney is contacting you on behalf of another. Here are some examples:
If a lawyer is questioning you or asking you to do something you may want to speak with your own lawyer.
If you are contacted by law enforcement, you should speak with a lawyer to be sure of your rights.
If you are thinking about doing something that would affect you or others legally, like suing someone, getting a divorce or opening a business, you should speak with a lawyer.
Also, lawyers provide helpful advice for planning ahead, like preparing and reviewing wills and contracts.
Q: How much do attorneys cost?
A: SandLaw charges clients in 3 major ways:
Hourly billing
Flat fee
Contingent fee
For an example, most of Hank’s cases are billed to the client on an hourly basis sent in a monthly statement to the client. Some matters are billed on a flat fee, such as when you purchase a Will Package for estate planning purposes. Some cases are billed as a contingent fee, meaning the lawyer’s fee is a percentage of the recovery obtained by the lawyer and is only paid if there is a recovery for the client. This is how Hank bills personal injury matters.
Q: How do I hire SandLaw?
A: The best way to involve Hank is to contact him and schedule an initial, half-hour consult. Hank prefers to do this in-person/virtual because the potential lawyer-client relationship is important, but can schedule this by telephone. For most matters you will receive a $50 fee for the first half-hour consult and may charge his hourly rate thereafter. You will not receive a charge for a consult fee for most flat fee matters or contingent fee cases like personal injury. If after the initial consult you want to hire Hank, you usually agree on a retainer to pay against the billable charges that is held in trust until earned or you pay the flat fee.
Q: Does SandLaw work only in the Denver Metro area?
A: Hank has represented clients throughout Colorado, especially in Boulder, around northern Colorado, on the eastern plains and in the mountains. SandLaw will travel.