Value Fee Pricing

New "Value Fee Pricing" for Fox Firm, P.C.

A-Grade Lawyer at B-Level Prices:At my firm, we understand that in this tough economic climate, it is crucial that good lawyers provide good value to their clients. It is possible in this economy to hire an A-grade lawyer with over 16 years of experience at B-level prices. This is why, for a limited time, my firm has slashed retainer fee rates for all domestic relations and criminal defense cases by 15% or more and cut the hourly rate for Fox Firm, P.C. from $275 to $235 per hour for retained work and $250 for post-retainer work. (see below for details).

The Concept of Value: Quality vs. Cost: Legal services are often expensive because of the significance of what is at stake in the case. Those looking to successfully navigate through the thicket of the legal system and protect what matters most to them realize that hiring a good, quality lawyer is an essential investment to safeguard their future or the future of someone they love - even if it means that significant expenses may be incurred.

When it comes to paying legal fees, most people agree that cheap legal services usually involve minimal case preparation, lack of lawyer-client communication, sparing attention to detail, reliance on outdated law and, when it counts the most, a poor and unpersuasive presentation of the case to the judge, jury, mediator or opposing counsel.

What I have come to realize in this economy, however, is that so many people who understand they should or want to hire a top-tier lawyer either simply cannot afford do so or are too concerned about their own future finances to do so. In this era of financial uncertainty, the more savvy individuals are those looking to merge quality legal services with manageable case-costs. In other words, people want good value from a lawyer: an A-grade lawyer at B-level prices.

As founder of Fox Firm, P.C., I am not only fully aware of this financial reality, but I am committed to thriving in it by giving clients what they really need: an experienced and determined lawyer who makes the financial investment worth it.

How to Assess Price Value: Cheaper Does Not Mean Better: Of course, the hard part about trying to find "value" in legal services is that you may not know how to measure the potential 'bang' for your 'buck.' Good legal services (the 'bang') are dependent upon not only the performance of the lawyer himself, but also on the unique circumstances of each individual case (not to mention the judge, jury or simply the approach taken by the other party or his/her own lawyer). Since the specific outcome of a legal case (the 'buck') can be hard to predict when you are first hiring a lawyer, what kind of road signs can you look towards to assess whether a lawyer is worth the investment?

One excellent way to evaluate the quality of the legal services you will receive is to find out whether a friend or family member could make a positive recommendation for a lawyer. Another great way to predict quality is to examine the level of professionalism and attention to detail you encounter through the initial call, interview or communication exchanges. A third, and perhaps best, predictor is your own instinct: do you detect the lawyer's determination, sincerity, knowledge and experience?

A final, and less palatable way, to predict how good your lawyer will be is actually price itself: as a general rule, cheap fees get you cheap lawyers with cheap effort, and higher-priced lawyers are less risky because those lawyers are used to winning. As with most anything - but especially - with so much at stake, cheaper does not mean better. At the same time, the most expensive lawyer will not give you value if a more reasonably-priced (but not "cheap") lawyer can provide the same quality of services; you still spend money (probably more than you would ideally like to), but the A-grade quality of the service is still at B-level pricing. This is the value I strive to provide to all of my clients in this economy.

Please understand that I do not do "C-level" (aka low-budget) pricing because my staff and I would be unable to offer the level of individual attention to each case if I were a 'volume' case lawyer. The following is a very basic breakdown of the value fee pricing structure for my domestic and criminal cases.

Value Fee Pricing in Specific Cases

Family Law/ Domestic Cases and Protective Orders (TPOs): Value Fee Pricing

• Retainer fees are set based on the number of issues involved in a case, the minimum expected time to resolve the case, and, among other things, the level of expertise required to properly handle the case.

• Depending on individual circumstances, retainer fees may be broken up with an initial up-front down payment, followed by a short-term payment plan.

• Retainer fees do not include filing fees and service fees charged by the Clerk of Court or law enforcement

• The hourly rate billed against a retainer is $235 (a savings of $40 per hour over previous hourly rate).

• Once the time and expenses in the case exceed the initial retainer, all additional time and expenses will be billed at a rate of $250.00 per hour (a savings of $25 per hour over previous hourly rate); law firm reserves the right to request another retainer.

• The following family law cases are priced under the Value Fee Pricing structure:

• Contested Divorce with Property/Debt Division and Children (requires custody determination, visitation, parenting plan and child support); no Alimony issues: $3500 now $2975 ($2000 up-front)

• Contested Divorce with Children, Alimony issues, and Property/Debt Division: $5000 now $3750 ($2000 up-front)

• Contested Divorce with Property/Debt Division; no children and no Alimony issues: $2500 now $2000 ($1500 up front)

• Contested Divorce with Property/Debt Division and Alimony issues; no Children: $3500 now $2500 ($1500 up front)

• “Uncontested” Divorces: A divorce case is very rarely truly “uncontested” where both parties have reached full agreement as to all necessary issues before a lawyer is even hired. The details to be covered in the final legal documents almost always produce important sticking (i.e. “contested”) points between the parties. In Georgia, since one spouse cannot block the other party from divorcing them, it doesn’t matter whether one spouse wants to challenge (or contest) the other party’s decision to seek divorce. The absolute minimum charge for even a divorce a client promises will be truly uncontested is $1500 up front.

• Modification: Change of Custody (must include Child Support): $3500 now $2975 ($2000 up front)

• Modification: Visitation and/or Parenting Plan: $3000 now $2500 ($2000 up front)

• Modification of Child Support: $2500 now $2125 ($1500 up front)

• Contempt of Court: Arrearage of Child Support or Alimony: $2500 now $2000 ($1500 up front)

• Contempt of Court: Parenting Plan, Custody, Visitation: $2500 now $2000 ($1500 up front)

• Contempt of Court: Property/Debt Terms of Divorce Decree: $2500 now $2000 ($1500 up front)

• Legitimation/Father’s Rights to Child (must include parenting plan, custody and child support); NOT seeking primary custody: $3000 now $2500 ($2000 up front)

• Legitimation/Father’s Rights to Child (must include parenting plan, custody and child support); Father is seeking primary custody: $3500 now $2975 ($2000 up front)

• Temporary Protective Orders/Family Violence or Stalking TPOs (Restraining Orders) without children:$2000 now $1500 up-front

• Temporary Protective Orders/Family Violence or Stalking TPOs (Restraining Orders) with children: $2500 now $2000 up front

• All other cases not listed will probably fall in the same basic value fee pricing patters listed here

• If client wishes to pursue or defend against multiple claims, such as, for example, modification of custody and contempt of court, retainer fees may be adjusted accordingly as the scope of the legal needs expand

Criminal Defense: Value Fee Pricing

• Fees in criminal cases are measured differently than those associated with family law matters. Criminal defense work tends to be performed on a flat-fee/trial fee basis rather than on an hourly basis. pically, my firm charges an initial retainer fee (professional services retainer fee) that covers all services outside of an actual trial or pre-trial litigation phase. Since the vast majority of cases are resolved without a trial, we do not charge a trial fee in the initial retainer.

• Should our efforts to achieve the client's expected result prove unsuccessful in the pre-trial investigation/discovery/negotiations/motions phase, then the client will be expected to pay a trial fee to cover the heavy time investment necessary to prepare and prevail before a jury or judge

• Fees for a private investigator, polygraph tester, expert witness, etc. (if necessary) are not covered by the professional services retainer fee; costs such as police records, POST reports, medical records, 911/CAD print-outs, subpoena fees, etc. are also not covered by the professional services retainer fee

The following criminal cases are priced under the Value Fee Pricing structure:

DUI 1^st lifetime: $1500 ($1000 up front)

DUI 2^nd or more lifetime: begins at $3000 $2500 ($2000 up front)

DUI 2^nd in 5 years: $3500 now $2500 ($1500 up front)

Possession of MJ (<1oz): $2500 now $2000 ($1500 up front)

Domestic Violence (Family Violence Battery): $3500 now $2500 ($2000 up front)

Probation Violation (on probation for misd): $2500 now $2000 ($2000 up front)

Probation Violation (on probation for felony): $3500 now $2500 ($2500 up front)

Felony Drug Possession: begins at $5000 now $3500 ($2500 up front)

Possession of Drugs w/ intent to distribute, sell, etc.: begins at $7500 now $5000 ($3500 up front)

Trafficking: begins at $10000 now $7500 ($4500 up front)

Violent Felony Crimes: begins at $10000 now $7500 ($4500 up front)

Theft and Fraudulent Practices: begins at $5000 now $3500 ($2500 up front)

Sex Crimes: begins at $15000 now $10000 ($5000 up front)

Serious Traffic Offenses (suspended license, hit and run, reckless or aggressive driving, speeding under 21 years old)begins at $1500 ($1500 up front)

Juvenile Offenses (felony and misdemeanor): begins at $1500 for misdemeanor and $3500 for felony charge

Warrant Application Hearings: $2000 now $1500

For more information about our Value Fee Pricing, please contact our office to schedule an appointment with a Lawrenceville attorney today.