Frequently Asked Questions
• What types of cases does your firm handle? We have a separate section of our website (“Practice Areas”) that addresses this question. Generally, though, we handle most types of civil litigation matters, both in state and federal court. Additionally, we handle almost all types of appellate matters, both in state and federal court. For state court civil litigation matters, we handle cases all over the State of New Jersey. For federal court civil litigation matters, and federal court appellate matters, we are willing to represent prospective clients not only within New Jersey, but also in the numerous additional jurisdictions in which our attorney is admitted. Simply put, if you have a matter that may involve a court appearance, then there’s a good chance we will be able to assist you.
• What if I’m not sure whether my legal matter falls into your firm’s typical practice areas? If you’re not sure whether your matter is something we would handle, then simply give us some details about your situation (either by calling us, e-mailing us, or coming in for a consultation), and we’ll let you know. You can rest assured that we have no interest in taking any case where we are not completely confident that we could provide excellent representation, so if your particular matter does not fall within our comfort zone, then we will be very honest and candid with you, and might refer you to a different attorney who might be a better fit for you.
• Does your firm offer free initial consultations? Of course. All prospective clients are entitled to a free initial consultation. This can often be accomplished over the phone (or even via e-mail), but clients are welcome to come in for a face-to-face meeting if they prefer. Typically, at this initial consultation, we will discuss the viability of your case, and we will also let you know if it’s a matter we are willing to accept. If so, then we will go over the terms of the representation with you.
• Does your firm give its clients a written retainer agreement? Absolutely. All clients are given a written agreement with our office that clearly explains their rights, the scope of our firm’s representation, and the fee that will be charged. These topics are all discussed at the initial consultation, so the agreement simply memorializes and confirms the agreed-upon terms.
• For prospective clients, how long does it take to get a consultation? This generally depends on our attorney’s court schedule. Typically, though, prospective clients can be seen within one or two business days. Our attorney is also willing to meet prospective clients at nights and on weekends, so even during extremely busy periods, we are still able to meet with most prospective clients within one or two business days.
• For existing clients, how long does it take to get an appointment? As with prospective clients, existing clients of our firm can typically be seen within one or two business days. Additionally, all clients of the firm our given our attorney’s personal cell number, and are welcome to call him at any time. We pride ourselves on our responsiveness, and promptly reply to all client inquires—often within an hour.
• How much is your fee? Unfortunately, this is not something we can predict ahead of time without knowing the details of your case. Every lawsuit is unique—both in terms of complexity and the amount of time it will take to handle—and as a result, it’s just not possible to post a fee on our website. Generally, however, when we represent plaintiffs, we usually do so on a contingency basis, and when we represent defendants, we usually charge an hourly fee. Either way, though, we will let you know our fee before our representation begins, and our written agreement with you will clearly set forth the details of our fee.
• Do you require a retainer? A retainer, or deposit, is fairly common in most attorney-client relationships. Unfortunately, though, this is also not something we can predict ahead of time without knowing the details of your case. Again, every lawsuit is unique, and as a result, it’s just not possible to post an expected retainer amount on our website. Generally, however, when we represent plaintiffs via a contingency fee, then we typically do not require a retainer, and when we represent defendants via an hourly fee, then we sometimes require a retainer, depending on certain aspects of the case. Either way, though, we will let you know whether we will require a retainer before our representation begins, and our written agreement with you will clearly set forth the details and amount of the retainer.
• How do I know if I need a lawyer? You might not. When discussing a case with a prospective client, it sometimes becomes apparent that an attorney is not needed. In other situations, an attorney might be needed, but for a more limited role than the prospective client original expected. For example, attorneys are often able to amicably resolves matter before actually having to file suit. The bottom line, though, is that you won’t typically know whether you need a lawyer until you actually consult with one.
• What if I’m not located near your office? This is not a problem, and in fact, very few of our clients are actually located near our office. We are a statewide firm, and also handle matters outside New Jersey, which means that most of our clients are scattered throughout the country. Logistically, this does not create any problems whatsoever, since most of our clients typically just e-mail us documentation regarding their matter, and then choose to discuss the merits of their case over the phone, in lieu of an in-person consultation. However, if meeting our attorney face-to-face is important to you, then he travels quite often for court (all throughout New Jersey and beyond), and he is always willing to fit meetings with prospective clients into these trips.