You are entitled to know what your fee will be at your first visit, to the extent that we can reasonably inform you. At Sabarwal Law, we hold ourselves accountable to the values of honesty and integrity and encourage an open discussion about our fees, with each client, at the time of the first interview.
Lawyers are paid under various fee arrangements.
Hourly fee: Fees are based on an hourly rate for services rendered. A detailed, itemized bill will be given to you showing all work done on your case. Unless otherwise agreed, the hourly fee basis will be the presumed fee arrangement.
Flat fee: On a flat fee basis, your legal fee is a stated sum for agreed upon services. No accounting/ itemized bill will be made.
Contingency fee: Your legal fees will be based on the amount of recovery we get for you; no recovery means no fee. You may have the option of choosing this plan in lieu of hourly charges. Please note that not all cases qualify for the contingency basis.
Other potential fees: A pre-payment will often be required in order to begin to process your affairs and you will be informed as to how that pre-payment is being used. Bills will be sent to you periodically showing your charges and payments.
Certain cases may have a minimum fee. This means that no hourly accounting will be made unless excess time is expended.
We try to keep all legal fees as reasonable as possible. The amount of services required, however, is not fully within our control. We discuss with our client options for services and the benefits of services. Sometimes, however, services are directly related to an opposing party’s action or inaction. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact us here . (Link to Contact form).
All office visits at Sabarwal Law are by appointment only. We advise each of our clients to schedule meetings with us during regular business hours. From time to time you may request that we meet you in the evening, if the matter cannot wait. While we do not encourage these “special office hours,” they can be arranged if necessary. If we must meet with you in the evening, we reserve the right to add a surcharge to our regular fee for an appointment. You will be reminded, in advance, of the decision concerning the surcharge. As “special office hours” may be expensive, please avoid them wherever possible.
You need a small business lawyer to protect you and your rights. A well-drafted agreement is like a good insurance policy in the event of an unforeseen dispute or litigation. We live in a contentious society and it is sensible to retain a good small business lawyer, to make sure you don’t get blindsided or taken advantage of. At Sabarwal Law we will also provide solid advice and judgment, identify significant risks and help negotiate terms in a transaction, that you may not be aware of otherwise.
As the saying goes, “you get what you pay for.” If your particular legal matter is significant, it makes sense to hire a good lawyer for the same reason it makes sense to see a good doctor if you’re very sick. Additionally, Web services like LegalZoom are not law firms and do not and cannot provide legal advice; they simply provide forms, which often have no context and are not tailored to your unique situation. The role of a good lawyer is more than just providing a form — they are a trusted advisor and advocate, who will strategize with you and help you think through key legal issues that are specific to your situation.