Please review the retainer agreement below. By agreeing to the terms and completing your payment, you will retain our legal services.
THIS AGREEMENT is made between Law Offices of Albert Goodwin, referred to in this agreement as “attorney” and "we" and the client, referred to in this agreement as “you” in order to set out the terms and conditions under which attorney will represent client.
1. Description of Services - attorney agrees to represent you in a legal proceeding. The services may include preparing documents, appearing in court, conducting discovery such as depositions, document requests and interrogatories, filing petitions and motions, negotiating for a settlement and conducting a trial.
2. Fees and Charges – The fees for professional services will be compiled on an hourly rate basis. Hourly rate for all attorneys at this firm is $500 per hour. At the present time, we have two attorneys at this firm, both charging the same rate. This retainer agreement is contingent upon the receipt of a retainer deposit in the amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000). This is not the full extent of your fee, it is only a retainer deposit for ten hours of work. As you know, the fees and costs relating to this matter are not predictable. There is no maximum fee and there is no cap on our fee. We will send you statements for services rendered and for expenditures made for you on a regular basis. The amounts set forth in the statements are due within ten days after the statement is mailed or emailed. If the deposit on file is substantially exhausted, a new deposit of $5,000 is due upon request. No exceptions. If you have any questions about any statement, please call promptly to discuss it.
3. Termination of Engagement - Either of us may terminate this engagement at any time by giving the other party notice. Upon termination by either of us, you will be responsible for paying for services rendered by us up to the date of termination at the rate of $500 per hour. In the unlikely event of a fee disagreement, all parties agree to submit to arbitration by the New York State Court System Attorney-Client Fee Dispute Resolution Program.
These terms are hereby agreed upon and accepted this day. You represent that you have carefully read and fully understood every word in this agreement and agree to its terms and conditions, and agree to faithfully comply with them.