Be Careful of Overbilling & Teams

As noted on my most recent Facebook and Twitter posts, it appears overbilling and teams are becoming the norm to maximize profits for firms.

Now, large corporate cases and large car accident cases require resources and eyes of two or more lawyers, two or more paralegals, and a team of legal assistants. 

Most cases don't fall under this umbrella. Indeed, I hear complaints that people who hire these firms who run up costs at the beginning have no other choice but to stay with them because of the money expended.  Sometime people have to take out loans for thousands or tens of thousands of dollars to fund a lawsuit. 

For small or solo firms think there also. Before I started on the path to shut down the Firm, I cared more about the work and charged a flat fee. So, and hour estimate may indeed be off by three or four hours. The pipeline clogged, but the work was better with those extra hours. 

Read more about teams, padding, and why the litigation swamp is no longer for me.

https://www.facebook.com/100038501584824/posts/513043173322398/?app=fbl

The Firm's Free 5 Minute Screening Consultation & Paid Office Consultation

FREE FIVE MINUTE SCREENING CONSULTATIONS

The Firm offers five minute screening consultations at no charge to provide general information and to determine the need for a paid 30-90 minute office consultation.  Approximately 60-75% of the time, the callers wants one or two questions answered or want to be guided on issues like failure to repair, renewal/nonrenewal notice rights, and security deposit disputes.  In those instances, 5 minutes may be all that is required.  However, if additional services are needed, a paid consultation must be scheduled. 

During the phone consultation, expect numerous interruptions as I try to obtain relevant information.  Although you may want to tell your full story during the call, it's not the best use of your time. 

For landlord-tenant cases, the first questions I will ask are the following:

(1) the name of the other party (for conflict check purposes)
(2) whether you live in a house or an apartment
(3) the city and county of the rental property

If you have documents that you want me to see, the five minute screening consultation is not the time to read sentences to me.  Lay people often miss important provisions in documents.   Therefore, an office consultation is the best time for me to review the documents to determine your options. 

Although I offer paid phone consultations, I don't review documents e-mailed to me in preparation for the phone conference unless the matter is prepaid.   Any time taken before the call will be included in the charge.  For paid phone consultations, prepayment for the hour through credit card, debit card, or Venmo is required.  Prior to the end of the time, I will advise the caller of the time expiration.  You can choose to continue the call and incur an additional charge.

Keep in mind, litigation is expensive.  You get what you pay for in many cases.  I've been in 100s of court sessions.  I see people who could have benefited from having an attorney with them in court.  Even if they couldn't afford representation during the trial or hearing, at a minimum a 30 minute consultation may have put them on notice on what to expect and the pitfalls to avoid.

 

Changes in Locations and Types of Cases

Maryland, DC, and New York Cases (Remote Handling)

Effective May 1, 2017 and for the foreseeable future, with the exception of family law and employment (disputes, termination packages, and discrimination claims) in Maryland, the attorney will not be taking new cases in Maryland, New York, or DC that have to be litigated in court.

I will still accept other non-litigation cases in those states if the matters can be handled remotely from my Georgia offices.

If you are looking for a landlord-tenant attorney in Maryland, DC, or New York, I recommend you go to the several websites such as attorneys.com, lawyers.com, and avvo.com and interview several attorneys about their background and experience before hiring one.

Cases in Georgia

Cases in Georgia will still be handled and litigated as normal.   Go to demandingjustice.com to learn more about the The McGill Law Firm, LLC. The attorney will still represent clients who happen to live out of state, but have cases in Georgia.  Approximately 30% of the Firm's small landlord clients live out of state.

This decrease in travel will allow the attorney more time to handle Georgia landlord-tenant, family law, employment, and contract litigation matters.

Attorney-Client Conflicts in Litigation

As many know, an attorney cannot represent two people with conflicting interests. Because of the small number of landlord-tenant attorneys and the large number of calls, texts, and e-mails I receive, conflicts arise from time to time. When it does arise, I have to excuse myself from the matter.

Most times it occurs when a small landlord and tenant call, e-mail, or text me about the same matter. Once it is discovered through conflict checks, meetings, documents, and other disclosures, I cannot represent either side. I do a general conflicts check at the initial 10 minute call, and a detailed one before a retainer agreement is sent.

With any attorney, it would behoove the potential client to meet with the attorney at least 10 days before a deadline or trial/hearing to allow the detailed conflict check to go through before the attorney-client agreement is presented for signature. This will give you time to (1) review the contract; and (2) find a new attorney if you don't like the terms of the contract or a conflict is disclosed.