Attorney's Fees
How much will it cost for The Gordon Law Firm to represent you in court?
Simply put, we don't know until we evaluate your case.
Additionally, the ethical rules for Virginia attorneys warn lawyers not to advertise fees because quoting a legal fee without knowing the facts of a case could be deceptive. See Rule 7.2, Comment 1A, Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct.
That is why we offer a free consultation in order for you to meet with us in person or talk to us on the phone before you commit to pay any fees. Before you agree to pay a dime to our firm (or any attorney for that matter) we want you to feel as comfortable as possible with your lawyer and the legal advice he or she provides. We believe that what is most important to our current and potential clients is the quality of our attorneys' character, legal skills, and their ability to stand up and fight for you when your future is on the line.
Do I really need to come into your law office for a consultation?
Not in every case. Reckless Driving cases in Virginia are serious, but many times our lawyers can learn all of the relevant facts about a reckless driving charge or other traffic offenses during a phone consultation. Of course you are welcome to meet with us in person if it is convenient for you. At the end of the discussion, if the attorney has enough relevant information, he or she will inform you of the fee for representation.
Telephone consultations are not the best for other types of cases. For instance, DUI cases can be very complex and our attorneys like to find out as much as possible about the events leading to your arrest. The same could be said for cases involving Assault and Battery or any criminal felony charge in Virginia. For these types of offenses, our attorneys will be happy to meet with you in person to learn of the facts, evaluate your case, and determine an appropriate fee for representation. Of course, we will be glad to speak with you over the phone about your case.
What are "flat" fees?
In most cases, we charge flat fees. That means that once you pay a fee for representation on a criminal charge before a certain court or jurisdiction, that "flat" fee will be the only attorneys' fee that you pay. We don't charge extra for telephone calls, office meetings, e-mail communications, postage, faxes, etc.
If a case requires a continuance, we never ask for more money. We believe that our client be should not be penalized if a judge grants a continuance to the Commonwealth because the police officer is unavailable on the scheduled court date or if a necessary witness does not appear.
Sometimes your attorney will tell you that an effective strategy for your defense requires a continuance on your behalf. When it comes to court hearings, our attorneys want you to pursue what we hope will be an effective strategy for success and to follow our advice, without you having to consider economic pressures and open your wallet to pay our firm additional fees.
Appeals of cases to Circuit Court, the Virginia Court of Appeals, or the Virginia Supreme Court will require a separate fee agreement.
How can I pay the attorney fees to The Gordon Law Firm?
We accept cash, checks, money orders, and all major credit cards including Discover and American Express. If you would like to retain us after a telephone consultation, we can accept credit card payments immediately. That way our firm can begin the process of notifying the court and the Commonwealth's Attorney that we will be there on your court date, ready to represent you.
If you have any questions about fees or our law firm, call our office at 703.218.8416, 804.864.9424 or toll free at 1.866.591.6682. We look forward to hearing from you.
