Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you charge for an initial
consultation?
When you have an initial conference with
one of our attorneys, you will be receiving legal
advice. We charge a fee for an initial conference
because we know our advice and time are worth
charging for. Additionally, once you have come into
our office for a consultation, even if you don't
retain us, we may be precluded from representing
someone with interests adverse to yours (such as
your soon to be ex-spouse, for instance).
What if I don't use my full retainer?
If you do not use your entire retainer for
any reason, it will be refunded to you. You will
receive your refunded retainer with your last bill.
You will not receive any interest on the amount of
the unused retainer, as we are required by the
Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct to keep your
retainer in a non-interest bearing COLTAF account
What is full-service representation?
Full-service representation is what people
traditionally think of when they consider hiring an
attorney. The attorney fully represents a client and
handles all aspects of a case, such as preparing
pleadings, communicating with opposing counsel,
communicating with the court, hiring experts, and
appearing in court.
What is limited representation?
Limited representation, or unbundled
services, involves hiring an attorney to be a
consultant or to do discrete tasks, such as review
a pleading or contract. The attorney will advise the
client regarding his or her case, and may review
some pleadings, but the attorney will not enter an
appearance with the court, file a document with the
court, or communicate with
opposing counsel. To outsiders, the client appears
to be representing himself or herself.
When you hire an attorney to provide limited
representation, you are solely responsible for
meeting all court deadlines, for filing the
appropriate pleadings, for fully and truthfully
meeting discovery requests, for communicating with
the court and opposing counsel, and for general
management of the case. People who are using a
mediator have the most success with limited
representation. The client is able to have an
advocate to analyze the case and give legal advice;
however, the attorney's role is limited. Therefore,
the client can keep complete control over the case,
and the client knows exactly how much time is being
spent by the attorney on the case.
We will not provide limited representation in some
circumstances, however. We will not consult with
clients on how to handle a contested trial, if a
case is particularly complex, or if domestic
violence is potentially an issue.
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