What is a "retainer" and how does it work?
What is a disbursement?
What is your hourly billing rate? How are your fees determined?
Do you have any sort of payment plan to help me with my payments?
How is my privacy protected?
What if I have more questions before or after I enter into a retainer agreement?

What is a "retainer" and how does it work?

At the outset of our involvement, we will require a retainer from you. The retainer is a specified amount of money that reflects our assessment of the nature of your particular case. The retainer monies are held In Trust, and as each interim account is rendered, the retainer monies from The Trust will be applied to your account. In other words, before we start working on your case you will provide us with a retainer amount, which we will then bill against for both our services and for any and all disbursements.

What is a disbursement?

Disbursements are not to be confused with fees. Disbursements refer to costs that are not part of our fees but rather represent actual out-of-pocket expenses which we necessarily incur on your behalf. Disbursements do not include office overhead or the cost of carrying on the practice which is subsumed by the fee. For example, a disbursement might include the cost of an accountant or actuary who assists in structuring a financial settlement. Disbursements also include, as a further example, the costs of having correspondence delivered immediately by courier or facsimile transmission or photocopying.

What is your hourly billing rate? How are your fees determined?

There are a number of factors involved in the determination of our fees. Only one of the factors is the amount of time expended. Other important factors include:

• the complexity of the issues involved;
• the monetary value of the matters in issue;
• the urgency of the situation and the resulting priority of attention;
• your ability to pay; and
• to some extent, the success achieved.

The current minimum rates (which are subject to increase) are as follows:

Please note that any time expended in telephone conversations and correspondence is included in the determination of my fee.

Do you have any sort of payment plan to help me with my payments to you for your services?

Yes. We understand that the added expense of retaining a lawyer may cause financial difficultly for some. In order to assist you with this added expense, and to ensure that your account remains current, we can arrange to take preauthorized monthly interim credit card payments. All we will ask is that you sign a consent form to authorize us to charge your credit card a specified sum on a monthly basis.

How is my privacy protected?

Currently, the law requires that the offices of Altmid Roll & Associates only collect, use and disclose your personal information with your knowledge and consent, which may be express or implied, depending on the sensitivity of the information and the reasonable expectations of the client.

A retainer agreement will stand as express consent to use your personal information as required during the course of the retainer and thereafter as required, and you shall full indemnify the law firm of Altmid Roll & Associates for said use provided the use if reasonable and necessary.

What if I have more questions before or after I enter into a retainer agreement?

It is our goal to satisfy you and it is essential that a healthy solicitor - client relationship be maintained. Misunderstandings must be avoided and full communication on both sides is essential in order to maintain that healthy relationship.

If you have any questions concerning any matter connected with the engagement, our services, your file generally or any account, then please contact us so that matters can be fully discussed, resolved, and clarified.