My consulting starts with an interview of the prospective client. We discuss a summary of the events in the case. The initial consultation is Free and may last anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour. I only work for Targeted Parents and Family Law Attorney's. When I agree to work on a case I start my investigation of the facts by reviewing all the various documents that are relevant ( i.e. The court orders, emails, transcripts, motions and the other evidentiary information ).
INITIAL RETAINER FEE
The initial retainer fee is based on an estimated amount of time needed to review the case and for services to assist in the litigation issues. This fee will be approved by the client in advance and it will be stated in a written agreement between the client and the consultant.
My hourly fee is $250.00.
In order to provide an opinion to a client or a medical legal strategy, it will be necessary to conduct various interviews, examine evidence, review any reports ( i.e. police reports, CPS reports, any evaluations ) to read through essential medical records, emails, school records, voicemail messages, and to include conversations with the collateral witnesses. Some time will include conversations with the client's attorney, and formulating efforts to reduce the clients expense.
One of my primary goals for a client is to assemble a team of medical-legal professionals to provide the litigation support and secondary to that my focused objective is to reconnect the amputated relationship between the alienated child and the targeted parent.
Some of my services during this time frame might include:
Finding legal representation
Interviewing various attorney's
Emails to attorneys
Going over retainer agreements and responses to retainer agreements
Finding medical experts for the case ( psychologists, therapists, psychiatrists, G.A.L.'s. )
Interviewing various medical experts and or medical treatment providers
Collecting CV's
Inquiries regarding any past recommendations
Exploring conflict of interest issues
Legal auditing
Draft letters
Emails
Consultations with attorney
Conferring with medical experts
Streamlining documents for psychological evaluations
Obtaining critique of prior psychological evaluations
Conferring with the client about issues concerning the spouse and the children
Preparing exhibits of evidence for counsel on various motions
Providing documentation to the client on how to interact with former spouse and children
(without the consultant's direct support ) to help reduce the clients consulting fee expenses.
RETAINER AND POST JUDGMENT LITIGATION FEES
Many clients retain my services because of difficulties they may be having with post divorce litigation issues. There are times when a parental alienator refuses to follow a court order for visitation and a client has problems with enforcement.
Sadly in the case of post divorce litigation it becomes necessary to help the client in areas that include:
Enforcement phases of litigation
Consults with medical treatment providers
Medical expert testimony
Motions on modification of custody
Supervised visitation issues
Consultations with the client about their spouse and children and financial issues.
My hourly fee is $ 200.00.
PRO BONO WORK
Every year, I devote some of my time to helping others on a Pro Bono basis.
There are many clients that find themselves in desperate financial situations
where they are unable to afford my fees. Services rendered to anyone on a
pro bono basis will require the submission of a verifiable financial statement.
I strongly urge anyone seeking pro bono assistance to make every effort to go to court with an attorney, if you cannot afford an attorney I will refer you to various professionals that do provide litigation support for your case.
