Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the consultation?
All cases have a free consultation.
What is the consultation for?
The main purpose of the consultation is not to provide legal advice, but a 20 minute meeting to diagnose your matter and discuss a plan of action. It is to figure out whether The Firm can represent you, and on what terms. We are not your attorneys until a Retainer Agreement is signed.
What should I bring to my consultation?
Please click here for a list of necessary materials to bring to your consultation.
What kinds of fee structures do you offer?
(The below examples are for illustration only and all fee structures for clients are to be determined by the Partners)
Hourly – our standard fee structure for most work. We charge for our attorney and staff time on an hourly basis, including ‘hard cost’ expenses such as mailing, couriers, filings and stationary. Retainer Deposit must be received before work begins.
Flat fee – single charge based on an estimate of the time required to complete the task, we sometimes provide services on a flat fee basis. This is most common for immigration filings, contracts, trademark and Nevada business filings. Must be paid in full before we being representation. Flat fees are paid to our general account from the trust account once we begin work and are non-refundable.
Contingency – we take a percentage of the settlement or award; most common in personal injury cases, occasionally offered when we represent plaintiffs for copyright and trademark infringement actions or employment actions. On a very limited basis we may represent commercial litigation cases on a contingency basis. For some types of actions we may require a deposit for ‘hard costs.’
Mixed flat fee and contingency, or hourly and contingency – For certain cases -particularly those with a potential recovery under $25,000 – we may offer a hybrid billing structure that offers a reduced hourly rate and a percentage of any settlement/award. One example might be a reduced hourly rate of $125 per hour and 20% contingency. We find that this structure is satisfactory for smaller claims and allows more people to be represented properly by an attorney.
Do you accept payment plans?
We structure payment plans for certain types of representation – most commonly criminal defense cases. Most services, including bankruptcy, trademark and business filings, must be paid for in full before we can begin representation. If you need help, please contact us and let us evaluate your needs.
How much does it cost to take my case to trial?
This is impossible to answer generally as it depends on case specifics. However, trials are expensive and a “small” trial of only a few witnesses and two days of trial can exceed $50-75,000 in fees and costs. Complex litigation with multiple parties, several witnesses, complicated issues, expert witnesses or novel theories of law can cost several hundred thousand dollars in fees and costs to take to trial. This high cost is one reason why settlement is often an advantageous outcome for all parties. Further, it is why contingency fee cases pose a significant risk for the plaintiff’s attorney, as a loss means no compensation at all for our time, and why we have to choose which cases we accept on contingency with care.
How long does a case take?
From weeks to years. Some civil litigation cases with clear liability and the right insurance coverage can be resolved in two to three months, however, five to eight months is more common even when the defendants intend to settle (or at least say they want to settle). Once litigation begins, twelve to sixteen months from filing the complaint to trial is considered a ‘fast’ case, and two or more years for complex trials is common.
Trademark registration can take as little as six months with no difficulties, or 12-18 months if office actions are required or potential confusion exists with another trademark.
Will you help me find a doctor? Will it cost me money?
Yes. We have a solid network of chiropractors and doctors we work with closely with on your case, and in many instances they will work on “lien.” This means that they will bill you but wait to be paid out of any injury settlement, along with the attorneys. Also, you may be able to get your medications and pain treatment on lien as well.
I was assaulted by security/bouncer/staff at a casino/night club. Should I file a police report?
Yes. And bring us a copy!
What is a Retainer Agreement? What is a Retainer Deposit?
The Retainer Agreement is the contract between the client and the attorneys. It outlines the terms of our representation, including what exactly The Law Offices of Ryan Alexander is to do for you, and explains our billing and what happens when your matter is closed. The client can always end the attorney-client relationship at any time.
The Retainer Deposit for hourly cases are funds which are deposited into a client trust account and held in the client’s name until the work is done by the attorney and billed, at which time the money is moved into the firm’s general account. When the Retainer Deposit approaches a zero balance, we will ask for more Retainer funds in order to keep working on your matter.
Do you represent small businesses or startup ventures for contracts and transactional work based on a percentage of revenues?
No. We only represent businesses for contracts and transactional work on an hourly or flat fee basis.
Do you shop music/screenplays/entertainment projects?
Generally, no. Our criteria are stringent and the work must be impressive, prepared and professional. In short, it must be a “10.” Also, due to our workload, we cannot commit to reviewing a large volume of material from each source. Do not send 100 songs. You should provide your best 1-3 tracks for music, or a synopsis or summarized pitch for any television or film project. Screenplays without a synopsis and/or character overview will not be read.
Can I file a claim against my own insurance company?
Yes. This comes up most often in cases where Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist coverage (“UIM”) is needed and your adjuster refuses, or in instances of ‘insurance bad faith,’ when the insurance company doesn’t cover you for something it should be under your policy. Contact us today if you feel that your insurance company has left you hanging without defending you.
Where are your offices in Las Vegas? What are the cross streets?
We are in downtown Las Vegas at Charleston Blvd. and Casino Center, one block from Las Vegas Boulevard. For those visiting Las Vegas, this is about 5 minutes’ drive from The Strip.
Do you handle matters in California?
Yes, through our close affiliations with local counsel in Los Angeles, we do represent clients in California and are brought in to work on litigation there. A large part of our work is based on federal law, and intellectual property and entertainment contracts are drafted to national standards (as they would be by any California or New York-based attorney).
