How We Are Different

Choosing the right attorney to guide you through the legal system is extremely important.  There is too much at stake to make a poor decision.  Perhaps you or someone you know has had a bad experience with an attorney in the past.  Explaining how we are different requires an explanation of what the “traditional” experience with an attorney can be like.

Typically, the lawyer bills the client by the hour, so the client never knows what the total bill is going to be until after the work is done.  Clients feel that they are asked to write their attorney a blank check.  The client can never get their attorney on the phone, and the attorney does not keep the client updated on the status of his or her case.  Sometimes there is a different paralegal or junior attorney working on the case every time the client calls the office.  And, when the client is able to reach someone by phone, a few weeks later the client gets a bill in the mail for $75 for a couple of questions!  The client makes a mental note – “Do not call the attorney again.”

Surely there has to be a better way.  We know there is.  That is why we started our law firm.

What makes us different is that we built the firm around the needs of our clients.  At Crider Law, our clients are at the focus of everything we do.

You want to know that you have made the best decision possible about whom to guide you through the legal system.  You want to know that your rights will be protected and that you will receive thoughtful and effective representation.  You want to be kept updated on the status of your legal matter (without being charged extra).  

We have designed our office around a single principal:  That it is your case, not ours.  This means that we will provide you with the information you need, when you need it.  So you can stop worrying about whether your case is being handled properly, and focus on what’s important:  You and your family.  

Here are four specific ways in which we can achieve this for you:

(1)    Your Legal Matter is About You, Not Me

It doesn't matter how many clients we've served, or where we got our law degrees.  It doesn't matter how much we know about estate planning strategies, dissolution strategies, or business formation issues.  In the long run, we are not the ones who have to live with the result of your legal matter:  You are.

Some lawyers feel the need to impress their clients with how smart they are, or pressure them into one-size-fits-all legal solution.  Our job is to listen to you, learn about your goals, and use our knowledge, skill and expertise to help you make the right decisions for you and your family.

(2)    No Nickel & Dime Invoicing

You want certainty in your life. And you don't like unexpected bills from lawyers.  Most attorneys bill everything on an hourly basis.  As you can imagine, this can result in clients wanting everything done as quickly as possible with as little communication as possible (for fear of the bill they might receive).  For individual clients, this model may not foster the best outcome for their case.  It may not foster frequent and open conversations with their attorney, nor the development of a lifetime relationship between the individual client and the attorney.  

While we work on an hourly basis for some of our clients, we strive to work on most cases on a flat fee basis.  When we work on a flat fee, the fee is agreed to in advance, so there are never any surprises.   We speak openly about our fees up front, and when you work with us you choose your own fee level.

In addition, we don’t charge our clients our costs of doing business.  Most firms pass on any and all costs to the clients:  Fifty cents per page for copies?!  A dollar per page for faxes?!  At Crider Law, we rarely charge these costs to clients (and, then, only in certain pre-determined situations).  Of course, depending on the case, certain case specific expenses may be charged.  But we don’t pass our overhead costs on to our clients.  

(3)    Our Secure Client Extranet

We provide consistent, proactive updates to you about your case via our secure client extranet.  When we begin your case, we will provide you with a unique username and password to access our secure client website.  There you will be able to have access to your important case documents when you need it, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  In addition, at least every two weeks, you will receive a Status Report about what is going on in your case, even if there is not much to report.  You will know that your lawyer is on top of your case.  You will not have to worry about trying to call to get the information, and having to leave message after message because your lawyer is in court or in a meeting.  As we receive or prepare new documents for you, we will post them to the secure website.  You will enjoy the peace of mind of knowing exactly what is going on with your legal matter.

(4)    Your Lawyer for Life

When you entrust us with your matter, we see it as the beginning of our relationship, not as a one-time event.  We value our clients and the relationships we build with our clients.  We have created unique membership programs to help our clients to monitor their case or estate plan as future circumstances change.  

These are just a few of the things that make our firm different.  We fit best with people who want the peace of mind of knowing, not only that their matter will be handled of with the utmost professional skill, but also that we will be there for them as their trusted advisors to give them a lifetime of legal guidance – for whatever life may bring.

We look forward to working with you!  Not a client yet?  Contact us now.