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Consultations & Fees

CONSULTATIONS

From Alexandra’s interview for the Masters of Family Law series on ReelLawyers.com

The consultations that Atticus Family Law offers to potential clients are a practice arising from Abraham Lincoln’s statement, “A lawyer’s time and advice are his stock in trade.” The consultation is crafted to make sure that the client gets valuable information and witnesses the lawyer in action. Click here to schedule a consultation.

Compare Types of Consultations

Here is how our consultations work:

  • During the consultation, the client controls the agenda. The attorney hears out your concerns, asks questions, and reviews documents, as well as gives you earnest legal advice based on the facts presented. In the consultation, real legal counseling is performed – under this model, the attorney does not tell the potential client just what the client wants to hear, does not “sell” the client, and does not try to impress with legalese or law knowledge. Rather the consultation permits the attorney to demonstrate to the client how they practice law, spot issues, analyze facts, and communicate with the client.
  • There is a fee for the consultation. This payment ensures that the attorney’s time is respected, and it alleviates the pressure for the attorney to convince the client to retain the firm. The client recognizes a greater net gain from a paid consultation than a “no cost consultation” – the client truly gets what they pay for.
  • Client gets a reduced retainer toward any future work. The advantage for the client is that if the client needs further legal services for their concern, the fee is credited towards their retainer. In the end, either the client has the answers they need (and goes off without any further contact with the firm), or they have a lawyer who has started to get to know them & their case facts, who has demonstrated their lawyering style, and who’s services the client can retain for a discounted fee.
  • The consultation is amongst the potential client, whomever the client also wants there, and the AFL attorney. This permits the potential client to have with them the people they need to understand the advice, ask needed questions, and help them remember it afterward. For some matters, a 2-hour consultation will be needed, but 1 hour usually suffices.
  • The firm’s consultation includes follow-up questions that arise in the days afterward. In our experience, the client inevitably thinks of some other questions and/or talks with someone who has other relevant, important questions. This model makes sure ALL of the client’s questions are answered.

The quality of the firm’s legal consultations offered to potential clients can be attributed to this nation’s 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. If you would like to schedule a consultation, be it to get your questions answered or get to know the firm for legal representation, please click here.

 

FEES

How You Will Be Charged for Our Services

Atticus Family Law charges on an hourly basis. We use a written fee agreement to set the hourly rates for our work.

As work is completed and billed to you, the earned funds are transferred from a trust account to our firm’s account. Upon completion of our firm’s work, any remaining retainer funds in the trust account are returned to you. Retainer payments can be paid with cash, a personal check, a bank or cashier’s check, or a credit card or debit card.

 

FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS 

We have several opportunities for face-to-face meetings with our clients, both in-person and online.

It’s helpful if you write down your questions before the meeting. That way, you can ensure all of your questions and concerns are addressed.

Our attorneys and staff are available to meet with clients at each of our five office locations throughout Minnesota. Our offices are staffed from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.

ONLINE VIDEO CONFERENCING

Many times, it is crucial that we have an important discussion, but there are complications. It’s clear that meeting face-to-face is better for discussion than talking on the telephone, but the availability and logistics make an in-person meeting difficult or impossible. Hence we offer our clients online video conferencing through Zoom and video chat. The information necessary to access your meeting will be provided prior to your appointment.

For those people interested in our legal services, we schedule in-person face-to-face meetings. When those people live abroad or outside of Minnesota (or they have very particular other circumstances), we will schedule an online consultation with them.

Family Law

Atticus Family Law handles
matters in all areas
of family law in Minnesota.

Divorce

Our attorneys are experienced in
divorce and have successfully
helped clients in the past.

Child Custody

When it comes to child custody,
you need an attorney that
fights for your parental rights.

Contact us

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We Help Resolve Life’s Challenges

Downloads

Click to Download the Summaries, Questionnaires, & FAQ that AFL has prepared for its clients and the public

Personal Perspective From An Atticus Family Law Attorney

How To Choose The Best Divorce Attorney

When deciding between several attorneys to represent you, an effective strategy is to ask each attorney the same questions and compare their answers. Here are some potential questions that may guide your decision.

  1. Which attorney will be working with me, and what is his or her education and experience level?
  2. Has your firm recently handled cases like mine?
  3. How much do your services typically cost, and what is included in this price?
  4. How do you keep your clients updated regarding costs and the status of their case?
  5. What are your policies regarding payments, phone calls, documenting correspondence, and keeping clients updated on their cases’ progress?
  6. Is there a waiting period for follow-up appointments?
  7. What hours are you available on the telephone and in the office?
  8. Are my desired results feasible?
  9. What potential problems do you identify, and how will you overcome them?
  10. What is your strategy for my case, and how long until I get the results I want?
  11. How frequently do you go to court, and how do you choose between litigation or settling a case?

What You Should Share With Your Attorney

Be prepared to gather and share the following info:

  1. Is there an existing case? What is the court file number?
  2. Does the court have any scheduled hearings that are still pending?
  3. Can you bring a copy of your order or decree if you already have one in place?
  4. Who is representing the opposing party, and how have they interacted with you until now?

There is some information your attorney will likely want to know. Your attorney will really want to understand the dynamics and background of what has been going on with your family. For instance:

  • What problems are you handling right now, and who is exacerbating them?
  • Is your spouse creating issues for your children?
  • What ages are the children, and how do they perceive the situation?
  • What about your situation do you find distressing?
  • How would you describe your envisioned results?
  • How do you imagine your life will change in the next 18 months?
  • Where do you live, and what is your career?
  • What does your relationship with your children look like?

Payment Considerations

Your attorney should try to accommodate your needs and budget, which allows them to create an appropriate solution.

  • Are there specific parameters or payment terms that you are looking for?
  • Are there other deadlines we need to address, such as paying back a loan?
– Matt Ludt
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