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Attorney Consultations and Case Assessments Consultations are available by appointment in my office in downtown Memphis, Tennessee office, or over the telephone. There is no charge for a brief case assessment done by phone. Please read the descriptions below to familiarize yourself with the distinction between the a case assessment and consultation, and contact my office for further information or to schedule an appointment.
A case assessment will typically last five to ten minutes. I will want to ask you a few brief questions about your issue, and I will assess simply whether your case falls within my practice area, whether my current caseload allows me to accept your case should you wish to retain me, and the manner in which I structure my fees for your type of issue.
The assessment is not a consultation, and by my merely speaking to you briefly about your case, I am not representing you or offering to represent you. I will not render legal advice or make an in depth analysis of your legal issue. No attorney client relationship is formed during a case assessment. The reason I do not charge for a case assessment is that I am not making a large investment of time, or taking on a future obligation to you, and I hope it is helpful for my clients to have a brief chat with me prior to making an investment of money to meet with me on a more formal basis. Many lawyers will not speak to or meet with any new client until money has changed hands, however I recognize that many people would feel uncomfortable about paying for an hour of a lawyer's time without any idea what that lawyer was like, or even what type of work they may need the lawyer to perform for them.
In-office consultations or phone conferences last one hour or more, depending on your issue, the complexity of the facts and issues we discuss, and your questions and concerns to be addressed. All consultations will incur a minimum charge of $250.00. This represents one hour of my time, however you will be allowed to spend additional time (up to ninety minutes total) before additional charges are assessed so that you will not feel rushed and will have adequate time to ask questions. Should your consultation last longer than ninety minutes, you will be billed at the hourly rate of $250.00, billed in quarter hour increments. Prior to consultation, all clients must complete a brief potential client form so that I may perform a conflict check in preparation for our consultation. Please arrive five to ten minutes prior to your scheduled appointment so that you can fill out the required forms and make financial arrangements.
Fees Most cases are handled on an hourly basis. Based on your consultation, I will recommend a course of action and quote your required retainer based on the work I estimate will need to be done in the initial phase of your case. Will preparation, bankruptcy* matters and certain domestic relations** matters are billed for a flat fee. An information packet including fees will be emailed or mailed to you upon request for those matters. *BUTLER, SEVIER, HINSLEY & REID, PLLC, is a federally recognized debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy under Title 11 of the United States Code.
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