Online Consultations
Explanation and Engagement Letter
ONLINE LEGAL SERVICES
Our Firm’s Scope of Business. We advise on real estate transactions and prepare contracts, deeds, and other documents. We also form new LLCs and trusts in order to protect our clients’ assets. Many of our clients are real estate investors. We do not advise clients in any other areas of the law.
Online Screening. All new clients and all new cases are now screened and handled exclusively online, not by phone and not in the office. This includes the initial consultation. Details below.
Attorney-Client Communications. We are an email-oriented firm. We always begin with an email discussion so we can gather basic facts and documents before answering questions. Business hours apply.
Legal Fees. We offer a combination of flat fees and hourly billing. We do not offer free consultations or any free attorney time. Advance payment is required. Payment options are on the website. Details Below.
Limited Liability. The client agrees that our professional liability is limited. A consultation is a limited stand-alone service and does not render us liable for what else may occur in the broader transaction. We have no liability for portions of a transaction that we do not directly prepare documents for or expressly advise upon.
Initial Consultation. We have an established online consultation process based on working with over a thousand online clients:
(1) be sure that we have told you that we are available to consult on the legal matter you wish to discuss (we may have already made this clear in our response);
(2) read, sign, and return this consultation engagement letter;
(3) make advance payment of the quoted fee on the payment page of the website;
(4) supply background and context, copies of relevant documents (Note that the time it takes for the attorney to read client messages and background documents is included in the hour);
(5) please provide a list of any specific questions you may have. Human questions only please, not AI. You agree to be a human client and we agree to be a human lawyer.
CONSULTATION PROCESS
An Initial Consultation is Recommended but Not Always Required. An initial consultation is always recommended in order to provide the attorney with an understanding of the facts and legal issues of your case or transaction. However, in simpler matters (a document order, for instance) an initial consultation is not usually required – but only so long as we are given clear and concise instructions that are readily and quickly understandable. If this is not possible, then a higher fee or the hourly rate will apply.
Initial Consultation is Required in Complex Matters. In complex, creative, or document-heavy cases and at our discretion, we may require that the process begin with a paid consultation in order to gather facts and discuss details. In such cases, determination of an exact fee quote may be deferred until the case can be discussed at the consultation.
Online Consultation Process. All initial one-hour consultations with new clients are now handled online, not in the office. We begin with an email exchange/discussion so we can gather basic facts and documents (1) so we can fully understand the case; and (2) before answering questions. An optional phone call is available afterward if time remains in the hour. Additional services past the initial hour are available at our hourly rate.
CONSULTATION FEES AND POLICIES
Residential Consultation Fees. The fee for an introductory consult on residential cases is $250 for matters up to $750,000 and $350 (our usual hourly rate) for matters exceeding that amount. The consultation is conducted online and lasts for up to one hour or three days, whichever occurs earlier, when it automatically concludes.
Commercial Consultation Fees. Consultations on commercial matters are$350 for matters involving up to $750,000; $450 for matters involving $750K to $1.5M; $550 for matters involving $1.5M to $2M. Above $2M, inquire. Additional legal services are available at our regular $350 hourly rate (one hour minimum).
Items Beyond the Initial Consultation Hour. These services are available at additional fees –either a flat fee (if one is quoted) or based on our hourly rate. They are not “included”and may not be packed into the initial consultation flat fee.
Legal Fees – Ongoing. Beyond the initial consultation, either our extensive flat-fee schedule will apply (inquire) or our $350 hourly rate will apply (one-hour minimum, billed in quarter-hour increments). If in doubt, inquire. We strive to offer as many flat fees and be as transparent about legal fees as reasonably possible.
Phone Call. An optional call (not video) is available so long as time remains within the allotted hour. Some clients find the phone call useful, others do not. In any case, we do not jump straight to a phone call without first gathering basic facts and documents.
Scope of Consultation. It is important to be realistic and reasonable about the quantity and scope of material that can be discussed and covered in the introductory hour. Not every legal problem can be analyzed and solved in a one-hour consultation.
Duration. The introductory consultation is designed to substitute for the same hour one might spend in a lawyer’s physical office. It may last up to one hour spread over up to 3 consecutive business days (business hours apply) when it automatically concludes. Note please that this is not an unlimited three-day consultation. One hour is the limit.
No Specific Appointment Required for the Online Consult. No scheduling or fixed appointment time is required to begin an initial consultation. We will respond promptly to your request, although this can vary somewhat due to our backlog and the complexity of your inquiry.
Supporting Documents. Please have any relevant documents (the sales contract, for example) ready for review.If you have an LLC or other entity that is involved, we will likely need to see the formation and approval documents.
LIMITATIONS ON CONSULTATIONS
No Conditional Consultations. Beyond stating that a particular matter is within our expertise, we do not accept any client-imposed conditions such as “we agree to pay your consultation fee only if your advice is helpful.” We do not agree to any such pre-conditions or make any assurances as to the outcome of a consultation. We do not guarantee that our legal advice will be what you expect or want to hear. We do not agree that any specific objective will be achieved.
No Tax Advice. We are not tax advisors and do not give tax, accounting, or bookkeeping advice. Consult your CPA in conjunction with our legal advice.
No Texting Please. We do not offer consultations or any other legal services by text. Please use a keyboard device and take your time.
No Ongoing Representation. A consultation or a document review is a limited stand-alone one-time legal consultation that begins and ends. It is not full, ongoing, or open-ended representation. Also, we have no responsibility or liability for portions of a case, transaction, or any other matter that we do not directly review and expressly advise upon.
No AI, please. By signing this engagement letter, you agree to work with us in the capacity of a human only. We will respond by providing human (not AI) legal services.
AI-Generated Lists of Questions on our Consultation Advice. When we offer consultation advice, some clients will respond with a long list of AI-generated questions that literally require hours of unpaid attorney time to answer. We do not engage with this at all. It is inconsistent with a flat-fee business model. We respond to reasonable human questions, comments, and corrections so long as these do not then expand beyond the reasonable scope of a one-hour flat-fee consultation. Lengthy open-ended AI-generated Q&A is not permitted. Were it not for this limitation, we would not offer flat-fee consultations which are limited in scope to one-hour of attorney time.
No Bundling of Topics. Bundling multiple diverse legal topics or questions about multiple properties or transactions into a one-hour consultation is not permitted. This never works because it is too scattered. If multiple properties or topics need to be discussed, an hourly arrangement will apply instead.
No Shoehorning. Shoehorning (slipping in additional items and topics on top of an agreed flat-fee service) is not permitted. Additional topics and tasks incur additional fees.
No Coaching or Teaching. We are a law firm that provides advice and prepares real estate and business documents. We are not a real estate school or an investment advisor and do not offer mentoring on real estate investing.
No Total Re-Write of Documents During a Consult. The fee for a consultation or review/comment on a document is not a flat fee for the total re-write of an existing legal document. Re-writing a legal document inevitably takes longer than a one-hour consultation, so either our posted flat fee for document preparation or the hourly rate applies.
No Assurances as to Medicare, Military, or Government Benefits. We do not offer any assurances as to the outcome or effect of any documents that we prepare on Medicare, military, or government benefits. These are entirely outside the scope of our services.
No Assurance of Future Services. A consultation or document preparation task is not an advance commitment on our part to handle a legal matter going forward. We may, at our discretion, decline to be further involved after initial services are rendered.
LEGAL FEES GENERALLY
Legal Fees – Flat Fees and Hourly Billing. As an accommodation to our clients, we offer as many transparent flat fees as reasonably possible. However, certain open-ended matters are best handled by hourly billing or by retainer. If for some reason our posted flat fees do not apply then our $350 hourly rate applies. Our discretion applies in determining which is a flat-fee case and which is an hourly case.
Online Format. The consultation is conducted online and lasts for up to one hour or three days, whichever occurs earlier, when it automatically concludes. An optional phone call is available but only if there is room left in the hour. Otherwise the hourly rate applies to time in excess of the hour.
Legal Fees for Review/Comment on Contracts. We work with unsigned TREC and TXR contracts and their addenda only. The fee for review/comment on a TREC or TXR (Texas Realtors) residential contract is $250 for a sales price of up to $750,000 and $350 (our usual hourly rate) for a sales price exceeding that amount. Addition of our custom special provisions addendum in Word (recommended for both buyers and sellers to fill in gaps in the standard contracts) is $150. Both are available within the one-hour consultation timeframe.
Legal Fees: Deeds, Notes, Deeds of Trust and the Like. Documents in this category are usually $350 each excluding recording. However, more customized or complex documents (including commercial documents) may be higher, usually $450 to $550. If there is a metes and bounds legal description that needs to be re-keyed by us (instead of the usual brief lot and block) then an additional fee of $75 applies.
Fees for Customary Simpler Closing Documents. Simpler but customary closing documents (affidavits, notices, and the like but not deeds, notes or deeds of trust) range from $250 to $450 depending on customization and complexity.
Fees for Complex Custom Documents. Complex custom documents can range from $350 to $750. Fees in this category are difficult to predict. Inquire. A paid consultation may be required first, at our discretion, prior to preparing any complex custom documents.
Time of Payment. Our fees are due in advance when documents are prepared. We do not wait until closing for payment. Fees are not conditional upon closing or any other event.
Costs Such as Recording Fees. Legal fees never include any costs and recording fees that may arise. These are always separate and additional costs that are paid by the client.
Itemized Statement. An itemized statement is available upon request. Any statement we present to a client supersedes any prior fee estimates or quotes.
Addition of Custom Special Provisions. Addition of extensive custom or creative provisions in our customary documents increases legal fees at our discretion. Also, in any complex matter, we may require an initial paid consultation to discuss the transaction before proceeding. Determination of an exact fee quote is then deferred until after the consultation.
General Format of Documents is Not Variable. Our documents rely on our established professional format and presentation. While documents are lightly tailored to conform to the transaction, very extensive customization or reorganization of documents is not included and incurs higher fees. Highly customized or complex transactions require an initial consultation before proceeding. Determination of an exact fee quote is then be deferred until after the consultation.
Fees Quoted are for Services Online by Email. Office visits, phone calls, and Zoom calls are not included in online fees unless the engagement letter expressly so states.
FLAT FEE POLICIES
Flat Fees are Guidelines. Fees quoted are guidelines only and may be adjusted at our discretion if a matter or transaction is unusually complex, creative, or document heavy. We reserve the flexibility to vary our usual fees based on specific or non-standard circumstances. Fees are subject to change without notice.
Flat Fees Stand Alone. In a flat-fee system, all fees stand alone. Payment of one flat fee (including a consultation fee) does not include any other services or result in a credit toward future legal services. Flat fees are specific. Multiple diverse tasks incur separate flat fees. The alternative is our hourly rate.
No Carry-Over of Flat Fees. Flat fees relating to one transaction or property do not “carry over” to other transactions or properties. Our fees are per transaction and per property. Each transaction bears its own stand-alone legal fees and costs.
Scope of Flat Fees. Flat fees are offered for a specific task or transaction. Absolutely nothing else is “included.” Additional tasks or services may not be shoehorned into a flat fee. Third-party costs and expenses (filing or recording fees for example) are additional and never included in flat fees.
Flat Fees are Earned When Paid. There is no requirement that flat fees or flat-fee retainers be held in trust or in escrow or deposited in a separate account until some future event. There is no requirement that interest be paid on such funds. Flat fees are earned when paid.
No Hourly Accounting for Flat Fees. No hourly accounting is ever kept or made in flat-fee matters and the client has no right to demand one. Flat fees are earned when paid.
Switching to Hourly Billing. As a case develops, it may become apparent that hourly billing is more appropriate than a flat fee. We reserve the right to switch the case to $350 hourly billing (at our discretion) if work substantially or unexpectedly expands beyond what is ordinary and customary for the specific flat-fee task.
Expiration of Flat Fees. We do not carry long-term positive client balances unless there is a specific engagement letter expressly calling for us to do so. All payments, retainers, overpayments, or credits to a client´s account must be used within six months or they automatically expire in their entirety. No exceptions.
Flat Fees Distinguished from Retainers. Consultations and document preparation tasks are designed to be short-term. They begin and end in a limited timeframe. By contrast, retainers are intended to be a longer-term commitment to your case. Retainers may be flat-fee (for a specific period) or hourly. Inquire.
DOCUMENT PREPARATION
Document Preparation is Not Full Representation in the Transaction. Engaging us to prepare a single document is not the same as retaining us to represent you in the full case or transaction. Preparing one or more legal documents is a limited closed-end service that is narrowly confined. Preparing document(s)is a service with a narrow scope and does NOT make us your attorney for the entire case or transaction unless we expressly agree to this in writing.
Extensive Customization of Our Documents. Our documents rely on an established professional format, organization, and presentation. Fees for document preparation do not include extensive re-writing or re-formatting our documents in a highly customized way. This is a question of degree and of reasonableness. At our discretion in such cases, flat fees may be disregarded and the hourly rate may apply.
Document Preparation does Not Include a Consultation. In a flat-fee system, a consultation is a separate item that consumes additional attorney time. Doc prep fees stand alone as do consultation fees. Doc prep does not include a lengthy Q&A session about the document or about the transaction. That said, some limited questions are fine. This is a question of degree and of reasonableness.
AI-Generated Lists of Questions on Documents We Prepare. When we supply a document, some clients will respond with a long list of AI-generated questions that will literally require hours of unpaid attorney time to answer. We do not engage with this. It is entirely inconsistent with a flat-fee business model. We respond to reasonable human questions, comments, and corrections so long as these do not then expand to require extensive free attorney time. A document preparation flat fee does not include a consultation. This is a question of degree and of reasonableness.
Limits on Professional Responsibility for Document Preparation. We have no responsibility whatsoever for any part of a case or transaction that we do not directly handle, directly advise upon, or directly prepare documents for. No exceptions. A client’s DIY actions and activities (even within a transaction where we may have some limited involvement) are entirely at the client’s own risk. Were it not for this limitation, our firm would not agree to provide legal services to the client.
Document Preparation Fees are Not a Long-Term Retainer. Legal advice over time is called a retainer. That is an extra level of service that is certainly available but is not included in a consultation or document preparation fee, which are limited-timeframe services.
Document Preparation Excludes Negotiations. A flat fee for document preparation is a one-time stand-alone legal task that begins and ends. It does not include extra items such as negotiations, document amendments after negotiations, or any other ongoing services. Open-ended attorney time is handled on an hourly basis.
Finality of Documents We Prepare. The document process is not indefinite or open-ended. Documents we prepare or review are considered final 3 business days after delivery to you. Please get back to us promptly with any needed corrections or changes before then. We will gladly make them. Afterwards, a revision fee will apply.
Documents are Proprietary and Supplied in PDF Format. Except for templates, documents are supplied in PDF format only. All our documents are proprietary, subject to copyright, and licensed (not sold) to the client. Our documents may not be copied or disseminated to third parties.
Document Preparation: Additional Fees. Add $75 if metes and bounds (rather than the usual lot and block) must be keyed in by us. Add $25 if we are named as trustee in the Deed of Trust.
No Amateur, Internet, or Seminar Documents. We do not advise upon or get involved with reviewing/revising homegrown or amateur documents, forms from the Internet, documents prepared by non-attorneys or non-brokers, or guru forms from real estate investment seminars. Such documents do not meet our professional standards and must be replaced with correct Texas documentation prepared by an attorney. A “review” will not fix these documents.
DOCUMENT RECORDING AND REPORTING
Recording with County Clerk Excluded from Legal Fees. Our legal fees exclude both recording fees and the act of recording a document with the county clerk unless there is a prior express (not assumed) agreement otherwise. Online clients generally record their own documents since they have the original in hand (we do not) and only executed and notarized originals can be recorded in the county clerk’s real property records. We do not collect for recording fees, only document preparation.
Recording of Executed Original Documents with the County Clerk. Recording of the executed and notarized original warranty deed or deed of trust is easily done by the client by U.S. Mail. All 254 Texas counties post their per-page recording fees on their websites. Recording fees for deeds average around $30.The longer the document, the larger the fee. Upon request, we can provide a sample cover letter to the county clerk for you to use.
Federal FinCEN Reporting. The FinCEN Residential Rule requiring reporting of cash or no-considerationdeed transfers into LLCs and trusts has been invalidated by a U.S. District Court, pending potential appeal by the government. Flowers Title Companies, LLC v. Bessent. Accordingly, we do not provide or facilitate any FinCEN recording.
REPRESENTATION IN REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS
Legal Services Versus Brokerage Services. Engaging our law firm for contract review, document preparation, or other limited legal service does NOT mean that we agree to replace your broker or agent. Consulting a lawyer does NOT replace an agent or broker and all the various services, expertise, and ongoing support that Realtors provide. Requesting contract review, legal advice, or closing document preparation does NOT substitute for the broader services of a real estate agent or broker. We explicitly disclaim any effort to put our attorney into the role of a Realtor in the transaction. We offer legal advice only. The scope of our legal services is strictly limited by the terms of this engagement letter.
No Representation of Both Sides. We only ever advise and represent one side of a case or transaction. We never attempt to “represent both sides.” Absent instructions to the contrary, we strive to give legal counsel and prepare documents that are aggressively in the best interests of our client. If you want this to be otherwise, you must let us know in advance.
Providing Legal Documents Versus Representation in the Full Transaction. Preparation of documents or providing a consultation is a limited, closed-end service that begins and ends in a specific timeframe. These services do not include or encompass ongoing legal advice or representation in the broader transaction. Engaging our firm for a limited purpose does not mean that we become your attorney for the whole transaction unless we expressly agree to do so in writing.
Our Attorney Also Has a Real Estate Broker’s License. Our attorney is a licensed Texas real estate broker. However, this office is primarily a law firm and the services we provide are primarily legal in nature. Engaging this firm in a legal capacity does not also engage us in a brokerage capacity. We are not currently offering full brokerage services. Any brokerage representation by us requires a specific signed written brokerage agreement, not just a legal services agreement. This engagement letter covers legal services only.
Information on Brokerage Services (IABS). See TREC’s Information about Brokerage Services at https://lonestarlandlaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IABS-1-0.pdf.
TITLE COMPANIES AND APPRAISAL DISTRICTS
Our Law Firm is Not a Title Company. We prepare and supply legal documents only. We do NOT check title, provide title reports or policies, obtain tax certificates, pay off existing liens, or conduct closings. We do not employ staff to perform these title company functions.
No In-Office Closings. We prepare and supply legal documents only. We do NOT offer title company-style closings in our office. We do not escrow or distribute funds. We do not notarize or record documents. We do not file any forms with the IRS.
Use a Title Company for a Title Policy or Title Report. If our client is the buyer or lender, you are advised to obtain a title policy or at least a title report on the property prior to closing in order to determine if the seller has good title and/or if there are existing liens, judgments, easements, or restrictions affecting the property. This is not our responsibility.
Use a Title Company to Escrow and Distribute Funds. As document preparers only, we do not perform any escrow functions at all. We never hold client funds.
Title Company Policies Can Vary. Our documents are always legally effective, but we make no guarantees or assurances concerning any particular title company´s preferences, demands, or underwriting criteria, since these can vary. Negotiating with title companies, addressing their objections or requirements, and dealing with title company attorneys is not included in flat fees. The hourly rate applies.
Appraisal District Policies Can Vary. There are around 254 appraisal districts in Texas, all with their own independent policies and procedures. We make no guarantees or assurances that an appraisal district will (for example) grant a homestead exemption or take any other action in any particular case or circumstance. Negotiating with appraisal districts or addressing their objections or requirements is not included in our document preparation fees and incurs the hourly rate.
EXCLUSIONS FOR OUR LEGAL SERVICES
No Realtor Services. We do not perform services typically provided by real estate agents and brokers unless we expressly agree to do so in writing. Otherwise, only legal services are available.
No Tax Advice. We are not tax advisors and do not give tax, accounting, or bookkeeping advice. Consult your CPA in conjunction with our legal advice.
No Escrow Services. We do not offer escrow or trust account services. We do not receive, hold, or disburse client funds or funds in escrow or trust, ever. We suggest a title company for this purpose.
No In-Office Closings. We do not offer free in-office closings. This firm gives advice and prepares documents only. We recommend a title company for closing and funding.
No Assurances or Guarantees. We never guarantee the outcome of a transaction or a negotiation.
No Trustee Services. We never accept the duty of acting as the trustee of a client’s trust.
No Representation of “Everyone.” Our role as a real estate attorney is strictly limited to advising or representing only one party in a transaction.
No DIYers. We do not assist DIYers in handling legal projects or on drafting their own legal documents.
No Liability Beyond the Specific Task. Our firm has no professional duty or liability whatsoever for any part of a case or transaction that we do not directly handle, directly advise upon, or directly prepare documents for. The client’s DIY activities are entirely at the client’s own risk.
No Client Fraud or Illegality. If it is determined that a client is engaging in unlawful activities, representation will be immediately terminated without refund.
No Physical Inspections of Property. We do not physically view property. We do not physically walk surveys on the ground to verify them. These functions belong to the parties and their agents, brokers, and surveyors.
No Litigation or Disputed Matters at this Time. Our legal services are limited to real estate representation, business transactions, closing documents, and asset protection including LLC formation. Our schedule for litigation and disputed matters is currently full.
No AI-Generated Inquiries or Questions. You agree to be a human client and we agree to be a human lawyer. If the client has human questions or specific document changes or corrections, we will gladly respond. But we will not spend unpaid attorney time dealing with AI-generated slop.
NO GUARANTEES OR ASSURANCES
Generally. Lawyers may offer an assessment of future probabilities, but lawyers NEVER give guarantees or assurances of any kind as to the outcome any case, document, or transaction.
Contracts. We offer no guarantees or assurances that contract or document amendments we recommend will be accepted and signed by the other side.
Closings. We offer no guarantees or assurances that a transaction will successfully close and fund.
Title Policies. We offer no guarantees or assurances of clear title or that a title policy will issue in any particular transaction.
Loans. We offer no guarantees or assurances as to whether or not a client will be able to secure a loan.
Property Taxes. We offer no guarantees or assurances about how an appraisal district will evaluate or assess any real property or any conveyance of real property since these policies vary by district. This includes whether or not the appraisal district considers any particular property to be homestead or considers a any trust to be a qualifying trust.
Tax Outcomes. We offer no guarantees or assurances about state or federal tax outcomes. We are not tax advisors and offer no tax advice. Always consult your CPA in conjunction with our legal advice.
Title Transfers and Due-on-Sale. We offer no guarantees or assurances about how any particular lender will or will not choose to exercise its power to call a loan due. We discuss probabilities only.
Lawsuits. We offer no guarantees or assurances as to whether or not a client will be sued or what the outcome of any litigation will be.
PAYMENT AND REFUND POLICIES
Advance Payment is Required. We do not send bills after the fact for online services. Payment options are as listed on the payment page of the website. Checks are not accepted.
No Conditional or Contingent Fees. Payment of fees is never conditional or contingent upon a successful closing, loan approval, appraisal, title policy, or any other event. There is no refund if such events do not occur as anticipated.
Itemized Statement. We customarily provide statements in larger matters. If you require an itemized statement of fees and costs before proceeding with a smaller matter, please let us know.
Refunds. If it is determined very early in the process to terminate engagement (before substantial attorney time is expended) we will promptly provide a full refund by means of: (1) an immediate Paypal refund or (2) a law firm check sent by regular U.S. Mail. However, there is no refund once the attorney expends time and effort examining a file and discussing it with the client. Reading client documents and answering questions consumes attorney time and is a service to the client. Once this happens, legal services have occurred and the client’s payment becomes entirely non-refundable. Also, there are no refunds if legal advice provided is not what the client expected or wanted to hear. Client acceptance of a refund entirely releases this firm from further involvement in the case.
Client Default. If a client defaults on payment of legal fees then we may immediately terminate the attorney-client relationship and cease providing services.
ATTORNEY CLIENT COMMUNICATION
Business Hours, Weekends, and Holidays. This is a law firm, not an online retailer. We adhere to traditional business hours (Monday through Friday 8-5 CST) for the wellbeing of the humans who work here. Please communicate with us during these hours. Late night and weekend calls and emails from clients are discouraged and we have no obligation to read or respond to these.
Sending Us Supporting Documents. Please provide us with legible copies of relevant supporting documents (if any) in easily downloadable form. Email attachments should be in pdf, Word, WordPerfect, Excel, or other common software. Do not send original documents in the physical mail. We do not handle originals.
No Encryption or Passwords. Please do NOT apply any form of encryption to emails or attachments. Avoid Dropbox or any method that requires us to get a password and enter a third-party site in order to view your documents. If you require that level of security, please consult another law firm.
Data Dumps. Please send us only the information or documentation that we request. Dozens or hundreds of extra and unnecessary pages make your file much more cumbersome and time-consuming for us to download, read, and manage. We rely on you to omit irrelevant material. The time it takes to sort through large data dumps is part of paid attorney time and will be charged accordingly.
Please Maintain the Email Thread. This is a required level of professional communication. We are unable to work with anyone who does not do this.
Screaming with Capital Letters. We do not work with clients who communicate this way.
No Texting, Please. We do not offer consultations or any other legal services by text. While texting may be suitable for casual communications, texting of sentence fragments and one-liners is not suitable for a nuanced legal case. Please use a keyboard device and take your time.
No AI. Please communicate with us in the capacity of a human. We gladly respond to human questions and comments but will not work with your AI, period. Sending us AI slop will result in client termination.
Courtesy Required. Discourtesy or rudeness will result in client termination.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Client’s File. Clients receive copies of relevant documents as the legal matter progresses. This is the client´s file. Keeping these copies and maintaining them in an orderly manner is the client´s responsibility. We have no obligation to provide any additional documents or information. We never retain originals. All our records are electronic.
Client ID. The requirement of government-issued photo ID is now common at law firms, medical offices, and other professional firms everywhere. Fraud is rampant. We do not work with anyone who declines to provide ID and any identifying information that we may (at our discretion) request.
AI Agents. If your intention is to do business with us through an AI agent, please contact another law firm. We interact with humans only, no exceptions.
Terms of Service. All of our firm’s general terms of service (found at the “Fees & Policies” tab on the website) apply without exception to all persons receiving legal services in addition tothe specific terms of service set forth in this engagement letter. No exceptions.
Engagement Letter. This document is our engagement letter setting out the terms and conditions of this particular engagement for legal services. If you wish to proceed, please sign and date below.
Agreed:
________________________________ _______________
SIGNATURE DATE SIGNED