Limited Availability

This small firm lawyer couldn't be happier. Effective today, I am booked up. Except for dispossessory and wrongful eviction cases, I will not be taking new cases until July.

If you have already contacted me about your case, you have a spot. So, don't worry.  This is limited to those who are contacting the Firm for the first time from June 11-June 30th.

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6/14/2019

Already, I've had to turn away people who can't find satisfactory lawyers to represent them.  Unfortunately, I've had to abandon the triage and number system as I described in my prior posts.  Oftentimes, complainers cause unlimited harm by their complaints.  This is just one example of the problems caused by those folks. The triage method worked for nearly 10 years, and assisted over 10,000 people who called and received assistance or retained the firm. 

Starting July 1 Residential Tenants Will Not Receive the 5 Minute Free Screening Consultation

The Firm will no longer give residential  tenants free 5 minute screening consultations. 

If you are a residential tenant and want to consult with the Firm, you can schedule a 15 minute paid phone consultation for $50.  This $50 will not be applied to the retainer.

The areas of consultation for residential clients are the following:
(1) filed or threatened evictions;
(2) wrongful completed evictions; or
(3) landlord's claim for damages to the rental property that exceeds $15,000.

Retainers and Invoices

All retainers for work more than 7 days out must be paid by certified check, money order, cash, Money gram or Western Union.

The Firm will no longer accept debit or credit cards for IOLTA retainers

Invoices for completed work, initial consultations, or dispossessory actions can still be paid by debit and credit cards.  Cash App and Venmo can also be used for invoiced completed work and initial consultation.

Some Folks Have Made the Tenant Attorney Shortage Even Worse

Effective June 1, the Firm will phase our its residential tenant practice.  I personally like the practice area, but financially and otherwise, it's not worth it anymore.  Over the years, I have been told that other lawyers have stopped their representation in this area out of frustration.  Some people can't be helped and others aren't worth helping.

Effective June 1, the landlord tenant practice will focus on the following:
1. Commercial Tenants
2. Commercial Landlords
3. Residential Landlords
4. Management Companies

Also, I'll be expanding my representation of homeowners and Homeowners' and Condo Associations. 

These groups tend to understand business, time constraints, and the court system.  Furthermore, they understand the importance of paying for quality services and extended statute of limitation periods. They tend to be more realistic about goals, return calls, start and termination timing, and other procedures.

I've met, talked to, and helped  numerous good residential tenants.  Like everything else today, the slaggers have ruined it for them and everyone else.  Therefore, if you are a tenant and can't find a lawyer to assist you, you can thank them. 

Although I will still be accepting new residential tenant cases through September 15, if I don't think the case will end by September 30th, I will not start it.

Correcting Rental History, Rental Reports, and Credit Reports

The Firm no longer handles demand letters and litigation to correct erroneous information on a consumers credit and rental report unless it is part of a larger lawsuit for other claims that does not have to be filed in Federal Court.  It is more efficient to have an attorney who normally handles FCRA claims if that is the sole claim in the case.

A consumer can find attorneys who practice in this area by Googling "Fair Credit Reporting Act" and attorney.

REFUNDS FOR UNPROCESSED WORK --- JUST ASK FOR IT

The McGill Law Firm is busy with calls, meetings, hearings, and trials.  When a client wants to go to another attorney because of delays, just say, I want a refund for my unprocessed work.  Some folks get so dramatic about a simple request.  Think of it as returning a blanket at Target.  The only difference is services already performed are taken out of the refund.   You really don't even have to tell me why you want a refund for your unused retainer.

I have about a 10% quit or fire rate (either I fire the client for many reasons or the client fires me because they can't wait).  Those slots are quickly filled (within the week) with other people who need legal advice and representation.   Most of those new clients have just received notice of a potential eviction.  Therefore, as much as I would love to have 100% completion rate, it's just not realistic.  Delays happen all the time, including having a 5 minute screening call turn into a 30 minute screening call; preventing an eviction with a trial in a week; a morning trial that turns into an all day affair; or a motion that takes much longer to complete. 

I get those same calls from people who are impatient with their current attorneys.  If you want to call me because your landlord-tenant attorney is moving too slowly, you may be calling the wrong attorney.  If you are impatient with an attorney with a paralegal and legal assistant because he's not getting to your case fast enough, you will be impatient with this solo attorney. 
 

New Rates for Initial Consultations

Effective June 1, 2019, the rates for initial office consultations will increase to $200/hour.  30 minutes is $100.

Tenants with pending dispossessory actions filed against them will be charged $85 for 30 minutes.

Nothing paid in the initial consultation will be applied to the retainer.

The rate for contract and lease reviews will be $275/ hour. This rate also applies during the first office visit.