Family law is a deeply personal, important and special area of the law because it impacts your family, your finances and your property rights. You and your attorney need to align in your philosophy, values and goals. The best way to learn whether an attorney or firm is a good fit for you is to have consultations with them.
We are often asked whether we offer free consultations. Although we are sensitive to our clients’ financial concerns, we have found that offering free consultations is not the best way to serve them. Here’s why:
Most of our clients are facing major life transitions. They are usually feeling a lot of emotions: grief, anger, worry, frustration, impatience, confusion, and more. When we first meet a client, they generally need three things: to be heard, to get answers, and to be reassured that they and their children will be okay.
Giving people helpful advice in a consultation takes time. Many attorneys who offer “free consultations” do so in order to bring prospective clients in the door and give them a sales pitch. The focus is on getting business for the firm, not answers for the client. We do not agree with that approach.
We charge for our time in consultations because doing so allows us to give you our undivided attention, and guidance tailored to the facts of your case. We realized early on that to make initial consultations free, we would have to do one of two things: make consultations brief, generic, and unhelpful, or take time away from existing clients who are already counting on us. We are unwilling to shortchange either our current clients or those who are coming to us at a vulnerable time seeking our help. So, we have devised a system that allows us to provide meaningful consultations to people who are considering working with us while giving our existing clients the attention and service they deserve.
There are a variety of reasons you might want to meet with a family law attorney. You may be contemplating a divorce and want to learn more about the process. You might have been served with divorce papers and have no idea what to do next. Whatever your situation, we are here for you.
The first step in working with us is to contact our office and speak with our intake coordinator to schedule a consultation. If you have been served with divorce papers or have a hearing coming up, let us know so that we can be aware of any deadlines you are facing. We will ask you some preliminary questions to make sure you get to meet with an attorney who is best suited to your needs.
Depending on your preference, we can schedule a consultation by Zoom or phone. To make sure that you have enough time to get all your questions answered, we set aside up to 90 minutes for an initial consultation. You may not need all of that time, but it’s available if you do. We charge you only for the time that you use. Our goal is to give you the information you need without overwhelming you. We want you to leave the consultation feeling more calm, confident, and in control than you did before you met with us.
After we’ve met, you will have the opportunity to retain us as your attorneys if you are ready. But no pressure. If you need to take some time to think about it or interview other attorneys, we encourage you to do so. It’s essential that you be completely comfortable with your choice. And even if you decide our firm isn’t the right fit for you, we want you to feel that your meeting with us was a good use of your time and resources.
Our goal is to give you the tools you need to navigate your legal matter and move forward with your life. We invite you to learn more about our services, our team, and what it’s like to work with us, and we look forward to getting to know you.
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