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CLIENT'S RIGHTS

 

 1. You are entitled to be treated with courtesy and consideration at all times by your advocate and the other advocates and personnel in your advocate’s office and off-site.

 

2. You are entitled to have your advocate handle your matter competently and diligently, in accordance with the highest standards of the profession. If you are not satisfied with how your matter is being handled, you have the right to discharge your advocate and terminate the client-advocate relationship at any time. (Judicial or Administrative Law Judge approval may be required in some matters, and your advocate may have a claim against you for the value of services rendered to you up to the point of discharge.)

 

3. You are entitled to your advocate’s independent professional judgment and undivided loyalty uncompromised by conflicts of interest.

 

4. You are entitled to be charged reasonable fees and expenses and to have your advocate explain before or within a reasonable time after commencement of the representation how the fees and expenses will be computed and the manner and frequency of billing. You are entitled to request and receive a written itemized bill from your advocate at reasonable intervals. You may refuse to enter into any arrangement for fees and expenses that you find unsatisfactory. 

 

5. You are entitled to have your questions and concerns addressed promptly and to receive a prompt reply to your letters, telephone calls, emails, faxes, and other communications.

 

6. You are entitled to be kept reasonably informed as to the status of your matter and are entitled to have your advocate promptly comply with your reasonable requests for information, including your requests for copies of papers relevant to the matter. You are entitled to sufficient information to allow you to participate meaningfully in the development of your matter and make informed decisions regarding the representation.

 

7. You are entitled to have your legitimate objectives respected by your advocate. In particular, the decision of whether to settle your matter is yours and not your advocate’s. (Judicial or Administrative Law Judge approval of a settlement is required in some matters.)

 

8. You have the right to privacy in your communications with your advocate and to have your confidential information preserved by your advocate to the extent required by law.

 

9. You are entitled to have your advocate conduct himself ethically.

 

10. You may not be refused representation based on race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability or immigration and/or work authorization status.

 

CLIENT'S RESPONSIBILITIES

 

1. The client is expected to treat the advocate and their staff with courtesy and consideration.

 

2. The client’s relationship with the advocate shall be one of complete candor; the client shall apprise the advocate of all facts or circumstances of the matter being handled by the advocate even if the client believes that those facts may be detrimental to the client’s cause or unflattering to the client.

 

3. The client shall honor the fee arrangement as agreed to with the advocate to the extent required by law.

 

4. All bills tendered to the client for services rendered pursuant to the agreed upon arrangement regarding fees and expenses shall be paid when due.

 

5. A client who discharges the advocate and terminates the client - advocate relationship must nevertheless honor financial commitments under the agreed to arrangement regarding fees and expenses to the extent required by law.

 

6. Although the client should expect that his or her letters, telephone calls, emails, faxes, and other communications to the advocate will be answered within a reasonable time, the client should recognize that the advocate has other clients who may be equally deserving of the advocate’s time and attention.

 

7. The client should maintain contact with the advocate, promptly notify the advocate of any change in telephone number, address, email, or other electronic contact information, and respond promptly to a request by the advocate for information and cooperation.

 

8. The client must realize that the advocate is required to respect only legitimate objectives of the client and that the advocate will not advocate or propose positions that are unprofessional, unethical or contrary to law.

 

9. The advocate may decline to accept a matter if the advocate has previous personal or professional commitments that will prohibit the advocate from devoting adequate time to representing the client competently and diligently.

 

10. An advocate is under no obligation to accept a client if the advocate determines that the cause of the client is without merit, a conflict of interest would exist or a suitable working relationship with the client is not likely.

As always in all matters represented, PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS.                                                                                                                              Actual Notice as of 7, October 2017

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