Avoid the Attorney’s Fees Pit with Self Help Legal Services

If you have ever been involved in a lawsuit before and hired an attorney you are fully aware of how quickly attorney’s fees can add up.  Litigation is not a cheap way to solve problems.  I was talking to an attorney friend of mine the other day was telling me about a lengthy case he was involved in where the client owed him thousands of dollars and the case was no where near being finished.  The client wasn’t happy because he owed so much money with more fees to come; the attorney wasn’t happy because he was owed thousands of dollars, didn’t see a way that the client would ever pay it, and faced with the prospect of continuing to work on a case without getting paid.

Some cases, especially large cases require that you are represented by an attorney.  However, if you are needing to sue someone or are being sued in small claims court or the local justice court you can take advantage of self help legal services or limited scope representation to dramatically reduce what you pay.  At my office we offer limited scope self help legal services.  What does this mean?  This type of representation is not for everyone.  You must feel comfortable handling many aspects of your case and doing much of the leg work.  If you are not comfortable with this full representation by an attorney is a better option.

What are Limited Scope Self Help Services?

With limited scope representation you can hire me to do a number of things to help your case without having to pay a large retainer or worry about mounting attorney’s fees.  You can hire me to draft a single letter, to draft a complaint, respond to a lawsuit, or even provide you with some legal coaching to help explain the legal process to you as you prosecute or defend your case.  It is important to understand that when you represent yourself in court, the judge is required to hold you to the same standard as the attorneys you are going against.  This means that they will assume you have read and understand the law and the rules of procedure.  Not knowing the law or understanding the procedural rules can sink your case before it even begins.

How Much Is This Going to Cost Me?

In a traditional attorney/client relationship you are required to pay a deposit against the legal services you are going to receive.  Often this is called a retainer.  Most law firms in the Phoenix area, depending on the case, will charge you anywhere from $2,500 up to $10,000 or more to even take your case.  Under this arrangement the attorney will handle all aspects of the case.  With limited scope representation you are hiring the attorney to do specific tasks in the case and/or to provide you with knowledge so that you can handle the case yourself.

At my office you will be charged a flat fee for each task you would like me to do.  For instance, if you believe a simple demand letter from my office will solve your problem, you can hire me to send a custom demand letter for as little as $150.  If you want me to prepare a written response to a lawsuit you just received in the Arizona justice court, I will do that for $275.  Under this arrangement you can get the legal help you need and save thousands of dollars in the process.

If you are owed money and need help getting a lawsuit started, or if you have been sued and need help in responding to the lawsuit, give me a call and I can help you determine what services you need and how I can best help you in dealing with your legal issue.  I can be reached at (480) 420-4028 or via email at john@skibalaw.com .