After practicing almost exclusively divorce law in Rhode Island for
just about a decade I've run into quite the contradiction between people.
First, I've heard statements from people that "attorneys cost too much". It's an understandable statement after all. I know colleagues who charge as much as $350 per hour for their Rhode Island Divorce services. Certainly to someone who makes less than $100,000 or so per year with very little debt to cover, this is a heft amount to pay for an hour of an attorney's time.
For those who have heard about the unique conversion of my practice to a paperless office, I have now effectively eliminated 85% of my overhead. What did I do with this 85% savings? I passed it along to my clients through reduced rates and the absorption of various costs. In truth, for the services I provide, the fee agreements I offer have been questioned by many people. Initially, many people walked away from my services. At first I wasn't quite sure how to take this response in the first few months.
Here I was hearing people complaining that attorneys cost too much. Then I come up with an alternative that is literally unbelievable and dwarfs the rates of current full-time Rhode Island Divorce practitioners causing huge savings for my clients. What happens? People walk away from it with the statement . . . "it's too good to be true!"
I began pondering. What the heck do people want? What is wrong with them? You charge the going rate to cover your overhead and they say you charge too much . . . . Hey, that's just like a attorney, right? We're all out to screw people over, right?
No, it's not right. There are good attorneys out there. Some of us even care. Some of us believe that client's need help and that rates need to be lower. We're not out to screw people. In truth, we are willing to sacrifice a six-figure income so that people can get affordable representation. Yet when we present the concept . . it's too good to be true!
Ouch! That's enough to send a attorney trying to help the public into shifting right back into the mainstream and charging the going rate based upon his or her amount of skill.
It took me some time to realize that it wasn't the concept that people didn't get, it was the rationale behind the approach. When I realized how to help people understand my philosophy and why this practice method is better for them, it was like a light in the darkness.
The answer was simply this. What do you pay your Rhode Island Divorce Attorneys for? In the traditional scheme of things you pay them for their income, their cushy air conditioned office in the summer, their warm bright office in the winter, their BMW, their trips to Greece or three or four times each year and their $500 tailored suits.
In the traditional concept of a Rhode Island Divorce attorney, you pay for the building they are in and everything that goes with it. You pay for all the amenities, the secretaries, new computers, copiers, service plans, plumbing repair, the ground maintenance people, the air conditioning, the heat, the private school for their children and much more.
So you let's say you hire Attorney Billings at the firm of Billings, Nowe & Offen and your $250 per hour pays for all of that. But didn't you just want to retain the attorney for his or her skill in you divorce?
THAT is the difference!
I've had people walk away from a consultation with me and here's what they've said.
"Sorry Chris, I'd rather pay the extra $150 per hour for the fancy office. It makes me feel more comfortable."
Okay, I understand it. I can't expect that I can undo decades of practice. After all, that's a personal decision he or she made. It's their choice to make. But I don't mind telling you that I do scratch my head and wonder a bit. I mean, it is a bit perplexing to me.
If you don't understand why it's confusing to me, then I'm not explaining it well enough.
Imaging that you have a attorney that says,
"Hey I have two plans I can offer you for my services.
Here's the first one. I can make you feel comfortable with my cushy office, air conditioning, top of the line copies, secretaries, grounds keepers, parking spaces, and you pay for all these extras that I get each year for me and my kids plus our 4 weeks of vacation each year but it's going to cost you $250 per hour and I'll need at least $3,500.00 up front.
OR,
You can just pay me for my skill as a Rhode Island Divorce attorney and I'll cut that price in half."
Which one would you rather do?
When you come to me I only offer the second option. That's the difference!
Go ahead. Pick up the phone and call Rhode Island Divorce Attorney Christopher Pearsall today at (401) 632-6976 to set up your low-cost consultation!
You'll be glad you did!
Authored By:
Christopher A. Pearsall
Attorney-at-Law
70 Dogwood Drive, Suite 304
West Warwick, RI 02893
Call (401) 632-6976 Now for your low-cost consultation.
from
Rhode Island's Most Affordable Divorce* Lawyer & Family Law* Attorney
Copyright 2008. Christopher A. Pearsall
A New Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer for a New Millenium!
*The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all attorneys in the general practice of law.
Pearsall.net |
AttorneyPearsall.com |
Rhode Island Divorce Tips |
ChristopherPearsall.com | GuaranteedWealth.com | Rhode Island Divorce Attorney |
Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer | Chris Pearsall | Legal Scholar | Pearsall Law Associates | Rhode Island Divorce Attorneys | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers
Comments