What are your office hours?
Our telephones and reception are open 9.00 am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday and generally we are available for appointments during these times.
We are often available outside these hours by appointment.
How can I contact you?
By telephone, email, fax or document exchange. (See bottom of page)
How can I make an appointment?
You can make an appointment by ringing our office or calling in to our reception. You can also arrange a time by contacting our professional staff by telephone or email. Normally we prefer to take our instructions from you, and advise you, person to person. This will allow you to ask us any questions and make sure you fully understand the advice we are giving. If you call into our office without first making an appointment, our professional staff will do their best to see you. It may not be possible for you to see the solicitor you wish to contact because he or she may be absent from the office or busy with another appointment.
What should I bring to an appointment?
You should bring all documents you think are relevant. This will save us time (and save you money) because we should be able to advise you on the spot.
If the documents are long (for example, a house contract or business agreement) we would encourage you to send us the documents prior to your appointment to give us an opportunity to read them beforehand.
It can also be useful for you to write down the questions you wish to ask us.
How will you charge me?
We charge on a fee for service basis, that is, according to the work you ask us to do. We do not charge commissions, nor do we charge contingency fees.
You can ask us about our fees at any time. We will be able to provide you with an expected range of fees. It will only be possible to give you a fixed estimate in a very limited number of legal matters, for example, a divorce. The reason why we cannot routinely provide you with a fixed estimate is that usually it is impossible for us to predict the amount of work we will need to do for you to complete any given matter. Often there are unexpected complications and people we are dealing with can be unreasonable. These are examples of problems that can crop up which are outside our control. In many cases the law may require us to notify you in writing of a reasonable range of our expected fees as well as the method we would use to calculate those costs.
How and when will you invoice me?
Usually at the completion of your transaction or matter with us. If your matter takes longer than a few weeks, we may send you invoices periodically. For example, in a court matter which takes several months before it is resolved, we may invoice you monthly. Our invoices will list the disbursements we have paid on your matter and will itemise the GST which is payable by you. Our invoices are payable within 14 days of us sending them to you. If you have any questions about an invoice you receive from us, you should contact us immediately.
What are disbursements?
Disbursements are out of pocket expenses we incur on your behalf. For example, in conveyancing transactions we routinely pay a fee to the local Council to find out if there are arrears of rates owing on the property.
Do you operate a trust account?
Yes. This is a separate bank account into which we must deposit all client money. Solicitors’ trust accounts are strictly regulated and must be audited each year. In some situations we may request funds from you in advance on account for our professional fees and other expenses. These funds are required to be deposited in our trust account and can only be paid out to us if certain procedures are followed.
Can you store my documents?
We can hold some documents for you free of charge. These are important documents such as your latest will and your house title.
When will you destroy my old files?
We will hold on to your old files for a certain time. It is our policy to destroy old files after 7 years.
