Are there any benefits to scheduling a free consultation?

This is a fair question. Some attorneys use the free consultation to promote themselves, others give consultations that are too short, and others just don’t know how to help you. That said, let’s see what are the benefits of scheduling a free consultation.

1. 1. The consultation is free of charge. This means that there’s absolutely no risk on your part.
2. 2. The first meeting with the attorney is focused on creating a safe space to make questions and build trust. Additionally, you will be able to measure how can help you this potential legal advisor.
3. 3. Although time-limited, during the consultation you can achieve a lot. If you prepare thoroughly you can use the consultation to clear those specific issues that brought you here.
4. 4. Full confidentiality. Under the rules of professional responsibility applicable to attorneys in the U.S., all information shared in furtherance of legal counsel is confidential whether you hire the attorney or not.
5. 5. Free consultations are usually limited to about half an hour. So you won’t get into the fine detail of your case. However, they offer a real opportunity to assess the office and to clarify any major concerns you have.

The Initial Consultation

Welcome to the Law Office of Giselle Ayala Mateus. Our office is specially focused on the satisfaction of the clients, their needs and expectations are fundamental for the provision of an effective service. Accordingly, the first step is to schedule an initial consultation. The first meeting with the attorney is focused on creating a safe space to make questions and build trust. Additionally, you will be able to measure how we can help you.

The consultation is handled according to your preference, online video conference, on the phone, or at the office. 

Although time-limited, during the consultation you can achieve a lot. If you prepare thoroughly you can use the consultation to clear those specific issues that brought you here. Additionally, keep in mind, under the rules of professional responsibility applicable to attorneys in the U.S., all information shared in furtherance of legal counsel is confidential whether you hire the attorney or not.

Hiring the Office

If you decide to hire the office for further legal assistance you will have direct communication with your attorney, continuous updates, and access to a secure portal to share sensitive information. We have services provided at a flat rate and others that work on the basis of billable hours. Before any legal services are provided, a written agreement will be entered into with the client. This is in accordance with the New York Rules of Professional Responsibility.

What Makes Our Services Unique?

All services are provided by a licensed attorney who sits with you and gives you full insight into your legal matter and the available options to handling it. Additionally, the office works with high legal tech tools that allow us to communicate and work with you online, remotely, by phone, or at the office, the choice is yours. We are a people-focused law firm. For that reason, we are able to work with you directly, provide advice, create documents, and design strategies that are tailored to your specific needs. Finally, we want to be convenient. Communication and organization allow us to work with your busy schedule, finding the time and place that works better for you.

How Do I Communicate With my Attorney?

Every client is different, for that reason, there is no unique method of communication. However, all methods we used are intended to be flexible and secure for you. Our office works by phone, Skype, Zoom, or Google Meet. Additionally, we account with a secure client portal that you can use to safely share documents or send messages directly.

I’m Worried About Sharing My Information On The Internet…

It is perfectly normal to be concerned about sharing personal or confidential information on the Internet. Considering this, you have the option to use our Client Portal, supported by Clio, the top client management software in the industry. Additionally, our website is designed by LawLytics a company specialized in working with law firms and truly concerned about the security of those in the legal industry.

How Expensive Are your Services?

Most of the services we offer are flat fee services. This means that you pay the attorney by the hour, you can call, text, or email several times to ask questions and you can schedule multiple appointments to go over your case, documents, and concerns about your legal matter. We do have hourly fee services. However, no services are provided or charged without your prior authorization as to means, budget and time. Additionally, we work with almost all forms of payments and may accept payment plans if discussed with time.

How Are Attorney Drafted Documents Different From Free Internet Templates and Free Forms?

A template found online is a good starting point for your document to understand how a legal matter is most frequently handled. However, it is important to understand that any document or legal strategy requires more than just a form or a commonly used document, there are numerous state and federal specific laws that may not be accounted for in the template. Additionally, templates are created to help in “all” situations, and if there is something attorneys know is that every client and every situation is different. In fact, many disputes or problems arise out of the use of templates or forms without any legal background. Finally, working with an attorney means that you have a professional working to protect your interests.

Client’s Rights

1. You are entitled to be treated with courtesy and consideration at all times by your lawyer and the other lawyers and nonlawyer personnel in your lawyer’s office.

2. You are entitled to have your attorney handle your legal matter competently and diligently, in accordance with the highest standards of the profession. If you are not satisfied with how your matter is being handled, you have the right to discharge your attorney and terminate the attorney-client relationship at any time. Court approval may be required in some matters, and your attorney may have a claim against you for the value of services rendered to you up to the point of discharge.

3. You are entitled to your lawyer’s independent professional judgment and undivided loyalty uncompromised by conflicts of interest.

4. You are entitled to have your questions and concerns addressed promptly and to receive a prompt reply to your letters, telephone calls, emails, faxes, and other communications.

5. You are entitled to be charged reasonable fees and expenses and to have your lawyer explain before or within a reasonable time after commencement of the representation how the fees and expenses will be computed and the manner and frequency of billing. You are entitled to request and receive a written itemized bill from your attorney at reasonable intervals. You may refuse to enter into any arrangement for fees and expenses that you find unsatisfactory. In the event of a fee dispute, you may have the right to seek arbitration; your attorney will provide you with the necessary information regarding arbitration in the event of a fee dispute, or upon your request.

6. You are entitled to have your questions and concerns addressed promptly and to receive a prompt reply on your letters, telephone calls, emails, faxes, and other communications.

7. You are entitled to be kept reasonably informed as to the status of your matter and are entitled to have your attorney promptly comply with your reasonable requests for information, including your requests for copies of papers relevant to the matter. You are entitled to sufficient information to allow you to participate meaningfully in the development of your matter and make informed decisions regarding the representation.

8. You are entitled to have your legitimate objectives respected by your attorney. In particular, the decision of whether to settle your matter is yours and not your lawyer’s. Court approval of a settlement is required in some matters.

9. You have the right to privacy in your communications with your lawyer and to have your confidential information preserved by your lawyer to the extent required by law.

10. You are entitled to have your attorney conduct himself or herself ethically in accordance with the New York Rules of Professional Conduct.

11. You may not be refused representation on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or disability.

Client Obligations

1. The client is expected to treat the lawyer and the lawyer’s staff with courtesy and consideration.

2. The client’s relationship with the lawyer should be one of complete candor and the client should apprise the lawyer of all facts or circumstances of the matter being handled by the lawyer even if the client believes that those facts may be detrimental to the client’s cause or unflattering to the client.

3. The client must honor the fee arrangement as agreed to with the lawyer to the extent required by law.

4. All bills tendered to the client for services rendered pursuant to the agreed-upon arrangement regarding fees and expenses should be paid when due.

5. A client who discharges the attorney and terminates the attorney-client relationship must nevertheless honor financial commitments under the agreed to arrangement regarding fees and expenses to the extent required by law.

6. Although the client should expect that his or her letters, telephone calls, emails, faxes, and other communications to the lawyer will be answered within a reasonable time, the client should recognize that the lawyer has other clients who may be equally deserving of the lawyer’s time and attention.

7. The client should maintain contact with the lawyer, promptly notify the lawyer of any change in telephone number, address, email, or other electronic contact information, and respond promptly to a request by the lawyer for information and cooperation.

8. The client must realize that the lawyer is required to respect only the legitimate objectives of the client and that the lawyer will not advocate or propose positions that are unprofessional or contrary to law or the New York Rules of Professional Conduct.

9. The lawyer may decline to accept a matter if the lawyer has previous personal or professional commitments that will prohibit the lawyer from devoting adequate time to representing the client competently and diligently.

10. A lawyer is under no obligation to accept a client if the lawyer determines that the cause of the client is without merit, a conflict of interest would exist or a suitable working relationship with the client is not likely.