Q&A

Q

Do I really need an attorney?

A Arut Law, P.A., strongly believes in the importance of hiring an attorney who can protect your interests. In many cases, hiring an attorney is the best way to ensure your case is handled and resolved in a way that is most beneficial to you. The benefits can range from more compensation being recovered for you to receiving objective advice and competent work product. Hiring an attorney can also provide you with peace of mind, which often is the most important thing you need to deal with your situation.

Q

How do I choose an attorney?

A That depends on the specifics of your case. However, you should always meet with the attorney you are considering in person before making a decision. You want to get a feel for the attorney’s personality and experience, because your relationship with an attorney must always start with trust. If you cannot trust the attorney you are dealing with, then you shouldn’t hire that person.

At Arut Law, P.A., you will always meet with an attorney, not a paralegal, the first time and every time you wish to discuss your case. The initial consultation in particular will be your chance to get to know the attorney and determine if he will be the right person to represent your interests.

Q

What is the initial consultation? What should I expect from it?

AThe initial consultation usually consists of an in-person meeting at the firm’s office where you will discuss your situation, legal questions, and related concerns with an attorney. It is the chance for the attorney to understand what has happened (or is currently happening) with you and potentially assess the nature and costs of the remedies that may be applicable in your case.

You should expect one of several possible outcomes from this consultation:

1) you and the attorney come to an agreement on the terms of representation (memorialized in a signed writing);

2) the attorney declines representation;

3) you decide not to hire the attorney or;

4) the attorney asks for a period of time to conduct further research into your matter.

Q

Do you charge for the initial consultation?

A No. The initial consultation is provided to you free of charge. There is no obligation to you until a representation agreement is signed. Furthermore, all consultations are confidential pursuant to the attorney-client privilege.

Q

What is/are the cost(s) involved in my case?

A There are three components to the cost of any case: 1) attorney’s fees, 2) expense costs, and 3) time.

Attorney’s fees reflect compensation to the attorney representing you for the time spent working on your case (e.g.,  doing research, writing documents, going to court, conducting trial, etc.). This can be on a flat-fee, hourly, or contingency basis, depending on the nature of your case.

Expense costs reflect reimbursement to the attorney representing you for amounts paid on your behalf for things like filing fees, copy cost, witness fees, etc. These are costs that are inherent in the handling of your case and depend on the strategy used to resolve your situation.

Time reflects the length of time needed to resolve your legal situation, which can be days, months, or (in really complex situations) possibly years.

The exact costs for any given case vary, because each case is different. During the initial consultation, the attorney will analyze and potentially give you an estimate of the costs associated with your case. This is only an estimate, however, because the attorney simply cannot predict all of the factors that may arise during representation.

Q

I have a question I want to ask that isn’t provided here. How do I do that?

A

All you have to do is scroll up to towards the top of the page, fill out the form, and then hit the “Send Question” button. A response will be provided to you as soon as possible, usually within 24 to 48 hours.

Or, if you feel that your question requires a more urgent response or an in-depth answer, scroll below to request a free and confidential initial consultation.