FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Our hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. We are also available after hours by appointment. We are currently working remotely. Appointments are conducted by phone or videoconference.

We do not provide free consultations because we do not believe they are helpful or beneficial to potential clients. Free consultations traditionally involve an attorne's analysis of your case for purposes of determining whether or not to represent you. They do not normally involve legal advice or guidance to the potential client. If advice is offered, it is usually generic and big picture. Detailed factual analysis is typically not involved. 

In our practice, most people who contact us want specific advice they can actually use and rely on, which requires in depth analysis of the facts and issues in their case. 

Instead of a free consultation that is not helpful nor accurate, we offer a Coaching & Counseling appointment, which involves an in depth review and analysis of documents and case evaluation followed by an appointment with our attorney where she will answer your legal questions and provide advice and opinions regarding your specific case. She will also strategize with you regarding accomplishing your goals. You are not obligated or presssured to retain us further, but may do so if needed or wanted. 

We wish legal analysis could be that simple, but it is not. We may be able to provide a preliminary opinion regarding whether or not you have legal claims, but that opinion could change based on the facts and any defenses that may be asserted. We are only hearing one side of the story and people often leave out or forget information when speaking with us. If we determine you have a case, please do not rely on our opinion as a guarantee of results in your case.

We do not track our rate of success. In addition, our definition of success could differ from yours. For example, obtaining a settlement could be a successful outcome to some but not others. What we can tell you is that we have a successful and effective practice, and we have achieved positive results in most cases we have handled. Of course, we cannot win them all nor make everyone happy but we try hard to do so.   

Visit our Contact Us page for information regarding how to reach us.

It is difficult to know how much money a client could recover based on a brief conversation that only tells one side of the story as we do not know if the defendant has defenses or if there are other factors to consider. In addition, we cannot guarantee recovery in a case as we cannot predict what a judge, jury, or the defendant may do. If we calculate potential damages for a client, we are doing so to provide a starting point for negotiations. Our opinion is also subject to change as we learn new information. It is our goal to maximize recovery in every case we handle, but we make no guarantees regarding whether you will recover and if you do, the amount of your recovery.

We take some cases on a contingency basis depending on the facts and claims. We try to offer several fee arrangement options so clients can choose the option that works best for them. 

We provide pro bono representation through local non-profit and charitable organizations. We do not provide pro bono representation to individuals who call the office seeking free representation. We encourage those who are seeking pro bono representation to dial 211 and request the services of Northwest Justice Project or Snohomish County Legal Services. 

Our fees for legal representation are customized for each case and client. We offer flat, contingency, and hourly fee arrangements on a case-by-case basis. The hourly and contingency options sometimes require a retainer fee. We charge a flat fee for unemployment benefit determination appeals, which is based on the issues to be determined on appeal and the facts and evidence in your case. 

We do not offer payment plans. Flat Fee arrangements require payment in advance. Hourly fees are due upon receipt of an invoice. Contingency fees are usually paid to us directly from the defendant. Sometimes, we agree to divide flat fees into two or three payments. However, our work will likely not begin until the flat fee has been paid in full. Feel free to discuss your financial situation with us. We will make things work if we can. 

(425) 322-2850

15117 Main Street, Suite 205, Mill Creek, Washington 98012.  We work remotely, however.

We are not meeting with clients in-person at this time. Appointments are conducted by phone or videoconference. 

We prefer to meet with clients individually unless there is a valid reason for including another person, such as an ADA accommodation or court order. We have a number of reasons for this, including but not limited to confidentiality and the attorney-client privilege, not wanting anyone else to mistakenly believe we represent them, the risk of miscommunication, it creates more work for us and may increase our fees, and it can result in problems down the road. We appreciate that your spouse, family, and friends support you and understand how important it is to have their support. If they have questions, you can always ask us and relay our answers to them. If you intend to have a third party attend your appointment with you, please discuss this with us before your appointment.

Yes. We prefer you you do so. You may complete the form by clicking the "Intake Form" button on the Contact Us page. 

It is okay if you do not know if you need legal representation. You obviously have a gut feeling that something is awry or you would not be on our website. Many people retain us to evaluate their situation so they can determine whether or not a legal claim is worth pursuing. Those who do not have strong legal claims to pursue usually find the investment in an appointment well worth it as they now have an answer and are also provided tips and strategies to use in the future. 

Our attorney is licensed to practice law in state and federal courts in Washington state. She is not licensed in any other state. We can take cases for out-of-state clients whose legal issue is subject to Washington jurisdiction, but we cannot take cases that are exclusively subject to jurisdiction in another state. For example, if a person works for a Seattle-based technology company out-of-state and signed an employment agreement that gives Washington jurisdiction, we can represent them. However, if a person works out-of-state for an out-of-state entity with no ties to Washington, we cannot represent them.  

If another state has jurisdiction, you should retain a local attorney in that jurisdiction who is familiar with the laws in that state and local court procedures.

We do not answer random questions without establishing an attorney-client relationship or without understanding background facts and context. Doing so could result in incorrect advice and could potentially negativley impact you. Therefore, if you would like your question answered, you will need to provide further information and  an appointment.