FAQs

When do I need a lawyer?

This really depends on your situation. Generally, you need legal advise in such events as:

	Marriage, divorce or adoptions.
	Changes in your finances, including problems in paying debts and possible bankruptcy.
	Buying; selling or leasing real estate or personal property
	Serious accidents.
	Deaths.
	Business transactions.
	Starting or terminating a business. Being accused of a crime.
	Discrimination.
	When someone sues you.
	Planning for distribution of your property and/or care of your young children after your death, and making a will.
	Retirement planning.
	Appearances, applications or appeals to government agencies or boards.
	Problems in getting benefits from a government agency, such as Social Security.
	Tax problems.
	Being deprived of job benefits or losing your job.

if a problem like one of these faces you, you should contact our law firm as soon as you can. Most legal headaches can be avoided you consult with us before taking a step which may have important legal consequences. Remember, it is easier and cheaper to prevent a problem than to try to sort it out after it occurs. Even simple problems not addressed quickly get more complicated as time passes.

When in doubt, consult with our law firm. A brief consultation can help you understand the legal aspects your problem and decide if this law firm’s assistance is needed.

When I hire your Law Firm, what can I expect?

In most cases, our firm follows a careful step-by-step process that may include:

	Conferring with you, the client, to pinpoint the situation and determine what you wish to accomplish.
	Gathering and analyzing all available facts and information.
	Interviewing relevant witnesses.
	Studying & analyzing the law that may apply to your situation.
	Offering advice and preparing contracts or other appropriate documents (such as wills, incorporation papers, filings with zoning boards, etc.).
	Preparing legal arguments for contested matters, and representing you in any negotiations for settlement and court appearances.

What should I do at my first meeting at the Law Firm?

You can help to make that first meeting with us successful and productive for both of us.

	Be prepared to give a brief explanation in chronological sequence of your legal problem ‑and what ultimate result you would like our law firm to help you achieve.
	Bring copies of any written records that explain your problem. The more complete your records, the less likely a second interview to go over the same questions will be likely.
	Write down questions you want the lawyer to answer.

If you have questions or concerns, express them to us.

How do I insure a good lawyer-client relationship?

Remember, good legal assistance is not a one-way street. You have to cooperate with Woliansky & Doyle, Esqs. if you really want to be helped.

The attorney-client relationship is confidential except, according to the Rules of Professional Conduct, if it is necessary for the lawyer to disclose information to the proper authorities in order to prevent a client from committing a criminal, illegal or fraudulent act which could result in death, substantial bodily harm or substantial injury to the financial interest or property of another; or from committing a criminal, illegal or fraudulent act likely to perpetrate a fraud upon a tribunal. Here are some important tips to follow:

	Give us an objective statement of all the facts. According to the Rules of Professional Conduct, a lawyer may "counsel or assist a client in a good faith effort to determine the validity, scope, meaning or application of the law." However, an attorney is not permitted to "counsel or assist a client in conduct that the lawyer knows is illegal, criminal or fraudulent, or in the preparation of a written instrument containing terms the lawyer knows are expressly prohibited by law."
	Don't look for simple, quick answers to complex questions. Lawyers are justifiably cautious in drawing conclusions or answering questions about complicated legal problems. Attorneys and judges know that cases are rarely "open and shut. "
	Let Woliansky & Doyle, Esqs. know about any new developments in your case.
	Don't hesitate to ask questions about any matter relevant to your case. Remember, though, lawyers are not doctors, psychiatrists, marriage counselors or financial advisors.
	Work with Woliansky & Doyle, Esqs. If you don't understand why something should be done or have doubts about some action your lawyer recommends, ask questions and get an explanation.
	Be patient ‑ don't look for instant results. The pace of the law is frequently slow and deliberate. The reason for that is that our legal system truly seeks to provide fairness, justice and due process to all litigants. Trust Woliansky & Doyle, Esqs. to follow through on the case but don't hesitate to ask for progress reports from time to time. You always have a right to know what Woliansky & Doyle, Esqs. is doing for you.

About legal fees, what can I expect?

It might be dangerous for you to choose a lawyer purely on an estimate of fees. “Shopping around” for the “cheapest” lawyer may be the worst approach because that lawyer may not be the most qualified to handle your case. You want a law firm that is responsive to your needs and attends to your case. You also want to be sure that the attorney you hired is performing the crucial functions in your case and not an inexperienced new associate.

One of America's greatest lawyers Abraham Lincoln stated, "A lawyers time and advice is his stock in trade." The time, study, experience and attention we give your problem all influence the legal fees. A lawyer invests hundreds of thousands of dollars on such things as education, staff, books and journals, rent, office equipment, and insurance. Office overhead also is a factor in setting fees. Remember that when you hire an attorney, you also hire his or her entire staff ‑secretaries, investigators and other employees. Consequently, a lawyer must set a charge for his services that is both reasonable and adequate to cover his own investment and expenses.

Because no two legal matters are exactly the same, fees vary widely. Some factors involved are:

	The amount of time and labor spent on your problem and the complexity of your case. To a lawyer, time is money.
	In cases where we have agreed with the client to charge on an hourly basis plus costs, Woliansky & Doyle, Esqs. keeps very careful records of the time or attorneys and our staff spend on your case. Hourly charges for meetings, research, courtroom appearances, telephone conversations, etc. are reflected in our bills that we normally render monthly.
	Fixed or flat fees may be set where the law firm already has a good idea of how much time they will have to spend on your case.
	The emergency nature of the case or the likelihood that the acceptance of the particular employment will preclude other employment by Woliansky & Doyle, Esqs. may also impact the fee. If Woliansky & Doyle, Esqs. has to "drop everything" to handle your matter, the fee may be higher.
	If we accept your case on a contingent fee basis we will be paid a percentage of the net recovery we obtain for you after we are reimbursed for our expenses. Under this arrangement, Woliansky & Doyle, Esqs. will receive no fee if your case is lost. (However, you must still pay certain costs directly related to your lawsuit.). Under this fee arrangement, Woliansky & Doyle, Esqs. must invest our own time, effort and office expenses without advance payment. For instance, if you are suing for compensation for injuries caused by another person's negligence, we may be willing to represent you for a contingent fee. This plan permits any injured person, regardless of their financial resources, to be represented by a private attorney in cases of this type. Of course, unless we take your case on a contingent fee basis, we always expect to be paid, no matter what the outcome. (Obviously results can never be guaranteed regardless of how much work we put into your case.)