What type of cases do you take? Please see my "Practice Areas" section for a list of matters I handle.
Do you offer free consultations? There are many definitions of "consultation." When you call me, I will ask very direct questions about your case in order to understand the possible courses of action. Based on this, I will tell you my initial plan and fee schedule. If you want a more in-depth review of your case, I provide this service and charge based on the time necessary to complete the review. An initial consultation with me is not an opportunity to get free advice or services. I limit the scope of initial consultations out of respect for my existing clients who expect me to devote my time to their cases.
Who is this "paralegal" person? Ms. Amy Derby is my paralegal. She is not a lawyer, but she undertsands much about military justice and the law. She is extremely intelligent and extraordinarily competent. Ms. Derby will often be the first person from the office to communicate with potential clients. As a paralegal, she is bound by the same confidentiality that governs attorney/client communications. During initial communications, she will ask various questions in order to screen cases and help me to do my job. She is an integral part of my team. If you are evasive, rude, or dishonest with her, you will not be my client.
How can I pay you? I accept all major credit cards, checks, cashiers checks, money orders, and cash.
Do you do divorces? No. Family law matters are best handled by local civilian attorneys in your area. They understand the rules of the particular state jurisdiction, and they are experienced in matters such as child custody, property division, and general divorce issues. My practice focuses on military/veteran law and policy.
Do you handle adoptions? No.
What rank were you in the military? Major (O-4)
Can I just ask you a few questions? If you already have an attorney-client relationship with me, ask as many questions as you want. If you are not a current client, I generally do not provide this same service. My loyalty is to those individuals with whom I have an attorney-client relationship. For them, I am rabidly loyal and regularly available. I tend to avoid anything that distracts me from providing them with my maximum effort.
I’m a veteran, and I was arrested and charged by civilian authorities. Can you come represent me? No. I do not make appearances in civilian courts. Civilian criminal courts are different from military courts and administrative boards. In most states, your attorney needs to be licensed to practice law in that particular state. My focus is on alleged crimes handled by military authorities in military courts. Having a license in one state allows me to do that worldwide.
Can you take my case for free? I do take some cases for free, but I do not obtain those cases through my website. So, if you are reading this, you are not eligible for my free services.
What are the odds of winning my case? Predicting the outcome of a legal matter is impossible. I’ve had great cases that flopped. I’ve had horrible cases that succeeded. I guarantee effort, not outcomes.
How much do you charge? That depends on the type of case, the forum of the case, and the amount of time I anticipate it will take. That varies greatly from case to case. No two cases are the same. I charge based on the estimated time to complete a case and the amount of availability I need to provide. I do not take a lot of cases, and I turn-down more than I take. For many routine administrative cases, the initial retainer is $3000. I am open to payment plans, but those must be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
What is a retainer? When I take a case on retainer, the client's money is placed in a trust account. Then, as I work on their case, I deduct from their retainer in the trust account at my hourly rate.
When are you available? When I form an attorney-client relationship with someone, I make myself available readily available at most times, including evenings and weekends.
Have you ever won _____ type of case? Maybe, but that is no guarantee that yours will win. Once again, remember that I make no guarantees as to outcome. Experience helps in preparing a case, but it is never a guarantee.
How are your prices compared to your competitors? Honestly, I don’t know, and I don’t care. I charge based on my level of experience and the time I plan to devote to your case. I'm not the cheapest, but I'm also not the most expensive.
There are lawyers online with fancy web pages. Why should I choose you over them? If having a lawyer with a fancy web page is important to you, then I am not the lawyer for you.
What TV and news shows have you appeared on? None. If you feel it is important to find a lawyer who appeared on CNN, FOX, MSNBC, or other news outlets, please look elsewhere. I generally find that publicity rarely (if ever) helps a case.
Why don’t you call yourself “aggressive?” “Passionate?” Those terms are buzz-words that are customarily used by marketers to inflate the qualifications of a person/professional. I work hard, and I do what I feel is most likely to secure a good result for my client. Whether that qualifies as “aggressive” or “passionate” is a decision for you to make.