Take the anxiety out of instructing a lawyer
Choosing, and then engaging, a lawyer can be an intimidating and difficult process, particularly if you have never used a lawyer before. Getting a good outcome to your problem is essential, but so is achieving that outcome in a way which causes you or your business the least stress and disruption.I aim to achieve that with all my clients in a number of ways.
Creating the least amount of stress and disruption for you
Your problem will be important to you, so therefore it will be important to me too. I have heard people complain that some lawyers lack empathy with their clients. They may be good at the law, but when it comes to understanding their client's real needs, they fall short. Calls go unanswered, procedures and processes are left unexplained, and costs get racked up.
My aim is to avoid all that by listening to what you really want and advising you in a way that aims to meet your expectations. That includes being completely upfront about how I charge.
Cost: the biggest stress
The biggest fear for anyone when instructing a lawyer is how much it is going to cost. I have a number of different rates which are applicable depending upon your individual circumstances.If you are a business, then my standard rate is $300 +GST per hour. That sounds expensive, especially if you are a small or medium sized business. However, there is a way to get your fees lower and that is by joining the Legal Hotline. If you are a member of the Legal Hotline you only pay $200 +GST per hour. That is a huge reduction and worth the monthly Hotline membership fee.
If you are an employee then I charge at $190 +GST per hour. If you want to use me to raise a Personal Grievance against your employer, it may be possible to go on my fixed fee plan. This involves a fixed fee for each stage of the process plus a small success fee if I am able to negotiate a good settlement for you. You can read more by looking at my fee schedule. The advantage of the fixed fee plan is that it gives you certainty of how much you will end up paying. I do not work on a contingency or "no win/no fee" basis.
I also reward prompt payment of any invoices. You can get a discount of 10% on all invoices if you pay within 7 days (providing you have no other fees outstanding).
Avoiding the 6 minute unit: fixed fee telephone consults
Not all matters need to be handled on an hourly rate. Sometimes you may just want to ask a question over the phone or get some general guidance on an issue. Where that is the case, I offer telephone consultations of up to 30 minutes and sometimes I can do this over email instead. If you are a member of the Legal Hotline, these consultations are free and you can have as many as you want whilst you remain a member. If you are not a member of the Legal Hotline, then I charge $50 +GST for employees and $100 +GST for businesses. It can be a small price to pay for peace of mind and works out a lot less than engaging me on the hourly rate.My areas of specialty
I do the majority of my work practicing in the area of employment law. I act for employers and employees alike and have written a book on the subject.I also specialise in general business law for small and medium sized businesses. As a business owner myself, I can provide helpful guidance in putting in place the right structures and documentation to ensure that your business is watertight. I do not do work of a transactional nature, for example conveyancing or business sales.
I also do work for clients in the sporting sector. I act for national sporting organisations, regional associations, clubs and athletes in a variety of sporting related matters.
How to instruct me
I am a barrister which means sometimes I may need an instructing solicitor. However, that is not always the case so it is best to get in touch with me and find out. Simply use the contact form on this website for any enquiries.And finally, the small print:
Every case I take on is governed by my terms of business which you can download here. Please read them carefully so you know how I work.Otherwise, I look forward to working with you.
Regards,
ApproachableLawyer.Com
What a fabulous letter. It appears to have done the trick. Michael, I have very much appreciated your practical assistance on very short notice over the past few days. I am also very grateful for your willingness to attend the meeting. You are a fantastic asset for an Esquire's franchisee to have close at hand.
Patrick Abbott, Franchise owner, Esquires Coffee Houses, New Zealand.
