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Do you charge a consultation fee?
Yes. Ms. Rosamond charges a consultation fee of $175. This fee covers the first hour of consultation time. In most cases, this will be sufficient. However, if the consultation lasts for more than one hour, any excess time will be charged at $17.50 for each extra 1/10 of an hour (6 minutes) or portion thereof. The initial consultation fee may be paid by cash or check and is due at the time of the consultation.
Other law firms do not charge consultation fees. Why do you?
We understand that you see many advertisements for law firms offering "free consultations". However, you should be aware that many of these firms do not actually allow you to meet with an attorney. Rather, your "free consultation" will frequently be performed with a paralegal, legal assistant, or other non-attorney employee. Your consultation, however, is with Ms. Rosamond personally, giving you an attorney's legal opinion of your legal issues and recommendations on next steps.
If you agree to represent me, how will my legal fees be billed?
In most cases, Ms. Rosamond generally bills fees on an hourly basis. However, she understands that in many cases, the client has lost his/her job, or may have other financial difficulty paying her standard hourly fees. Therefore, in some cases, she may agree to take a case on a special "reduced hourly plus contingency" basis. Each of these options is discussed more fully below:
Hourly Fees: You are billed by the hour for all time spent on your legal matter. For ease of calculation, time is rounded up to the nearest six-minute increment (6 minutes = 1/10 of an hour). We bill you on a monthly basis, but we may require an up-front deposit to ensure payment. Any unused deposit will be returned to you at the end of our legal representation.
Reduced Hourly Plus Contingency: Under this type of arrangement, you are billed by the hour for all time spent on your legal matter. However, the hourly rate billed is lower than Ms. Rosamond's standard hourly rates. If Ms. Rosamond recovers money for you, a final contingency fee is calculated as a percentage of the amount recovered. But this contingency fee due is then reduced by the amount of the payments you previously made. Payment of the final contingency amount is not required unless and until Ms. Rosamond recovers funds for you, but the hourly fees you have paid are not refunded, regardless of the outcome.
At the end of your consultation, Ms. Rosamond will recommend which of these options are available, depending on your specific facts and circumstances.
Other than legal fees, are there any other costs I might have to pay?
Yes. You will be responsible for all miscellaneous expenses incurred as part of your representation. Additionally, you may be charged interest if you do not pay you legal bills in full each month, or returned check charges if you pay using a check that is returned.
Miscellaneous Reimbursement for Expenses: With any legal matter, there are other incidental costs that will be incurred. For example, Ms. Rosamond will generally charge for all postage and/or courier charges incurred while working on your legal matter, copying charges and any travel charges. Additionally, Ms. Rosamond may have to pay other third parties on your behalf, such as court reporters, medical records providers, court clerks, or expert witnesses. Whenever Ms. Rosamond incurs these costs on your behalf, they will be charged to your account and you will be expected to reimburse them. In cases billed on a "reduced hourly plus contingency" basis, these costs are subtracted from your recovery after the contingency fee has been calculated. Due to the unpredictable nature of these costs, these costs cannot be estimated in advance.
Interest on Unpaid Invoices: If you are billed you for a legal fee or other expense, and you do not pay in full prior to the next monthly invoice, you will be charged interest on the unpaid balance at a rate of 1% per month (12% per year).
Returned Check Charges: If you make a payment using a check that is returned for insufficient funds, Florida law permits us to charge you a returned check charge of $25.
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