Frequently Asked Questions
What is a retainer?
A retainer is money deposited into the attorney's IOLTA (Interest On Lawyer Trust Account), which is a savings account that the attorney draws upon to get paid for work performed. Money in this account belongs solely to clients, not to the attorney. The interest donated to legal aid.
Our retainer is $5,000 and we bill at a rate of $400 per hour. If we perform 6 hours of work in a month, we bill you for $2,400 and pay ourselves from your $5,000 retainer. Your retainer balance is now $2,600. If our work is completed, you get the $2,600 back because we only did $2,400 worth of work. On the other hand, if we continue to do work and earn all of the retainer before the case or mediation is concluded, then you will be required to deposit more funds into your retainer account.
A retainer is money deposited into the attorney's IOLTA (Interest On Lawyer Trust Account), which is a savings account that the attorney draws upon to get paid for work performed. Money in this account belongs solely to clients, not to the attorney. The interest donated to legal aid.
Our retainer is $5,000 and we bill at a rate of $400 per hour. If we perform 6 hours of work in a month, we bill you for $2,400 and pay ourselves from your $5,000 retainer. Your retainer balance is now $2,600. If our work is completed, you get the $2,600 back because we only did $2,400 worth of work. On the other hand, if we continue to do work and earn all of the retainer before the case or mediation is concluded, then you will be required to deposit more funds into your retainer account.
I'm not sure if mediation is right for me. Can I consult with Sara and then decide?
You can (and should!) consult with an attorney before and during mediation. However, if you consult with Sara, then you cannot mediate with John. When Sara provides a consultation, she is assessing your situation and giving you legal advice designed to get you the best possible outcome. Sara is advocating for you. This creates a conflict of interest if John then mediates your case. A mediator is a neutral who does not advocate for either side. If you want John to mediate, then get a consultation with another attorney. If you want Sara to advocate for and advise you, then seek a different mediator.
What is the difference between mediation and litigation?
Mediation is a process by which two parties negotiate their differences with the assistance of a trained, neutral third-party called a mediator. A successful mediation will result in the two parties reaching complete agreement on all issues: custody, parenting time, support, division of house, division of retirement accounts, division of debts, etc.
The mediator does not advocate for either party over the other.
Mediation is a process by which two parties negotiate their differences with the assistance of a trained, neutral third-party called a mediator. A successful mediation will result in the two parties reaching complete agreement on all issues: custody, parenting time, support, division of house, division of retirement accounts, division of debts, etc.
The mediator does not advocate for either party over the other.