Working together
What working with us actually looks like
Most people have never hired a lawyer, and the not-knowing is half the dread. So here is the whole road, stage by stage — including the parts other firms leave vague, like when the meter runs and how it all ends.
-
Reach out — however feels manageable
Call, email, or use the consultation form. Tell us as little or as much as you like; a sentence is enough to start. We respond within one business day, and everything you share is confidential from the first word.
If you're worried about a shared email account or phone plan, say so — we'll agree on a safe way to reach you before anything else.
-
A free first conversation
Thirty minutes with the attorney who'd actually handle your matter — not an intake screener. You talk, we listen, and we tell you honestly what the road ahead looks like, including when the answer is 'you may not need a lawyer for this.'
No preparation required. Notes and documents help if you have them, but come as you are.
-
A plan and a price, in writing
If we work together, you'll receive an engagement letter that reads like it was written for a human: what we'll do, what it costs — flat fee or written estimate — what we need from you, and how quickly we return calls (one business day, always).
You take it home. We never ask anyone to sign in the room.
-
The work, at a humane pace
We move deliberately: drafts you can question, updates before you have to ask, meetings scheduled around school pickups and work shifts. You'll always know what's happening, what's next, and what — if anything — is needed from you this week.
One attorney owns your matter start to finish. You will never re-explain your story to a stranger.
-
A clear ending — and an open door
Every matter closes with a plain-language summary: what was decided, what's filed where, and any dates that matter in the future. Your file stays safe with us, follow-up questions in the first ninety days are free, and reviews of plans we drafted stay free for good.
Many clients come back years later for the next milestone. That's how we like it.
Our list of nevers
Five things that will never happen here
- No pressure tactics — we'll never invent a deadline to hurry your decision
- No surprise invoices — nothing billable starts without your written okay
- No jargon walls — every document comes with a plain-English summary
- No strangers — the attorney you meet is the attorney who does the work
- No judgment — every family is a real family here, whatever shape it takes
Before the first meeting
What to bring (nothing is also fine)
Documents make a first meeting more concrete, but they're never required. Showing up is the hard part; paper is the easy part. If gathering things feels manageable, any of these help:
- A rough list of what you own and owe — guesses are fine
- Any court papers, if something has already been filed
- Existing wills, trusts, or powers of attorney, however old
- A few questions written down — they evaporate in the moment
- For parenting matters: your children's school-year calendar
- A support person, if having one nearby makes it easier
Wondering about cost before you call? Every fee we charge is published on the fees page.