• We keep a “real world” perspective. We recognize someone must ultimately pay our fees and that people have limited resources to spend.
• We discuss up front the estimated cost of our services.
• We will notify you in advance and get your approval to proceed if a particular expense or activity will exceed your predetermined limit.
• We review each bill for accuracy and reasonableness before it is mailed. Even so, occasional errors are inevitable; we promise to pursue any inquiry and make it right.
• We follow the “team approach” in all cases, assigning certain aspects of the case to associate attorneys and paralegals when appropriate, to reduce the hourly rate; all work is supervised by experienced attorneys.
• We watch overhead closely. Our offices are not lavish, and our business practices are conservative.

Because we want you to remain our client, we do all we can to make our services as cost effective as possible.

• Remember you are billed for every phone call. Write down questions as they arise, and if they are not pressing, ask several questions at once.
  
  
• Seek counseling. Almost without fail, it will be cheaper for you to vent to a therapist or counselor about your frustrations than to your attorney. Keep your conversations with your attorney limited to legal matters. Going to counseling will not hurt your case. Courts smile on those who help themselves.
  
  
• Utilize office staff. If you are merely relaying information related to your case, it may be cheaper for you to give that information to non-attorney staff or even send it by mail, fax, or electronic mail. Office staff will immediately share important information with an attorney.
  
  
• Things take time. It is the rare case that is resolved literally or figuratively overnight. Resolving disputes takes time. And when you ask a judge to resolve a dispute, you have to abide by the court’s calendar. Be patient. We will notify you immediately of any developments in your case.
  
  
• Trust us. Ideally, you have chosen your attorney based on reputation. When we give you advice, it is based on years of experience with cases similar to yours. Do not sign any contracts or agreements without letting us review it. Do not make side deals without first conferring with us. Correcting mistakes can be costly.
  
  
• Visit our website. We have spent a great deal of time and effort in developing this informative site. We believe it will answer many of your questions.
  
  
• Cooperate. Tell us everything you think we need to know, no matter how difficult or embarrassing that may be. The other side will always reveal the skeletons in your closet in an attempt to make you look less than perfect. It is much easier (and cheaper) if we can deal with damaging information in advance.
  
  
• Pay your bill. You will be charged interest for late payments, and your account will eventually be sent to a collections agency if you do not pay. If you are having difficulty paying, contact the office and try to work out an alternate arrangement at the first sign of trouble.