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OK, I'VE GOTTEN A BAIL BOND AND I'M
OUT OF JAIL, NOW WHAT?
READ THIS...
Anyone who goes to court needs a lawyer.
The old addage about a man representing
himself is true.
I say again...anyone who goes to court
needs a lawyer.
Talk to friends who have had a similar problem,
a referral is an excellent starting point.
Get these questions answered:
Do you and the lawyer have the same goal
for the case?
Do you believe the lawyer has the expertise
and experience to handle your
case?
Do you understand the lawyer's explanation of what your case may involve,
including a timetable of the case, when and how often the lawyer intends
to
contact you, and how closely you will be involved in the lawyer's work?
Do you understand and agree with the lawyer's billing practices?
Do you believe that the lawyer will aggressively represent you in your
case?
THE FEE AGREEMENT
You always should ask for a written fee
agreement from your lawyer. The fee
agreement should explain clearly the legal fees charged by the lawyer,
including what services the lawyer will provide; the type and amount
of fees for
these services; and the billing practices of the lawyer. See below for
some
common fee arrangements used by lawyers for legal services.
In addition to legal fees, you will be
charged for the costs associated with your
case. Costs include fees charged by the courts as well as expenses incurred
by the lawyer to prepare and present your case. Typical costs include
court
filing fees; consultant charges; witness fees; travel expenses related
to the
case, among others. You can ask, as part of your written fee agreement,
for
an estimate of expected costs.
Some other issues to consider when writing
a fee agreement include:
Who else will be working on the case (paralegals, legal assistants,
and other
support staff), and how will that time be billed?
How will costs be paid- directly by you, or by your lawyer for later
reimbursement from you?
Are there ways to reduce legal fees and costs?
How will you be billed and can a payment schedule be arranged?
With a completed fee agreement, you will have a concrete sense of the
lawyer's estimate of the total charges. However, remember that an estimate
is
simply a calculated guess and that the total amount may change as
circumstances change.
Thanks to and reprinted with permission:
Michael Accardi , Las Vegas, NV
These attorneys have produced excellent results
for our clients.
Huggins
Law Office
Shawn Huggins
528 S. Casino Center Blvd.
Suite 203
Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
Phone (702) 387-4014
Fax (702) 387-3129
The
Law Office of Osvaldo Fumo
Ozzie Fumo
515 E Bonneville Ave
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 474-7554
Law
Office of Garrett T. Ogata
Garrett Ogata
3841 W. Charleston Blvd.
Suite 205
Las Vegas, NV 89107
(702) 366-0891
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