
LEGAL RETAINER AGREEMENT
This Agreement acknowledges the employment of D'Britto Law PLLC, and under the attorney Bruno D'Britto (hereinafter "Attorney") and _______________ (hereinafter "Client") and the fee arrangement by which Attorney will represent Client in the following matter or proceeding:
[Matter description]
Client understands that Attorney cannot guarantee the results of any proceeding and acknowledges that no representations have been made by Attorney about the outcome of this matter.
LEGAL FEES: Legal fees for representation of Client in this proceeding are based upon the following charges:
Payment Method: _______________
Attorney: $_______________
Client will be charged at the above rates for all time spent on this matter. These fees are FLAT FEES, meaning that they would only be charged once. Please note that the fee only covers the matter stated in the agreement. If your case requires additional steps, that will be another charge later in the process if you choose to hire our services. For instance, when you go to a mechanic for an oil change, you cannot expect the mechanic to change the car's brakes.
COSTS AND EXPENSES: Client will not bare the responsibility to pay expenses related to their case. HOWEVER, the client will become responsible to the cost of additional work resulted by the client's omission or lies perpetrated by the same. The client will bear the cost of the time spent in their case to the government at an hourly rate of $350 plus expenses. If the attorney decides that the omission or the lie was detrimental to the case and the client refuses to make the payment, the attorney may choose to drop the representation of their client.
PAYMENT OF FEES: The payment of the legal fee must be made upfront.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED: Attorney will charge Client for services which will include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) Reasonable telephone contact with Client, Attorneys and other relevant persons; (2) Case correspondence; (3) Document preparation; (4) Legal research; (5) Office conferences; (6) court appearances (ONLY if Client hired the Attorney to go to court); and (7) travel time to and from locations away from the Attorney's office.
PLEASE NOTE that excessive communication by the client with the attorney will be charged at an hourly rate of $350. Example: Calling the attorney on a daily or weekly basis to obtain the case status with the government agency that the case was properly submitted. Once the case has been submitted to the appropriate agency, it is beyond the attorney's control what the government does with the submitted case. The attorney will provide the appropriate tools (if available) for the client to sign up for automated messages pertaining to the change of status of their case and will inform the client every time there is an update with the case.
WITHDRAWAL OF ATTORNEY: Client understands and expressly agrees that Attorney may withdraw from representation of Client at any time if Client fails to honor the fee arrangement therein set forth including, but not limited to, payment of fees and expenses on a timely basis; fails to cooperate in the preparation of the case; fails to make a full and complete disclosure of the facts and circumstances relating to the case; or otherwise takes any action which impedes the ability of Attorney to provide adequate and ethical representation.
In the event of a joint representation, if there is a conflict of interest where attorney becomes unable to represent both clients, attorney must withdraw from the case.
REFUNDS: Attorney will not refund the fee if work had substantially been performed towards the case. Partial refund may be given proportionately to the amount of time Attorney had spent towards the case.
CONFIDENTIALITY: The attorney shall not reveal any of the information related to the client's representation unless the client gives informed consent.
I, _______________, hereby agree that the Attorney share information related to my case with _______________.
In addition, the Attorney may reveal information related to the client's representation if the lawyer believes reasonably necessary:
(1) to prevent reasonably certain death or substantial bodily harm;
(2) to prevent the client from committing a crime or fraud that is reasonably certain to result in substantial injury to the financial interests or property of another and in furtherance of which the client has used or is using the lawyer's services;
(3) to prevent, mitigate or rectify substantial injury to the financial interests or property of another that is reasonably certain to result or has resulted from the client's commission of a crime or fraud in furtherance of which the client has used the lawyer's services;
(4) to secure legal advice about the lawyer's compliance with these Rules;
(5) to establish a claim or defense on behalf of the lawyer in a controversy between the lawyer and the client, to establish a defense to a criminal charge or civil claim against the lawyer based upon conduct in which the client was involved, or to respond to allegations in any proceeding concerning the lawyer's representation of the client;
(6) to comply with other law or a court order; or
(7) to detect and resolve conflicts of interest arising from the lawyer's change of employment or from changes in the composition or ownership of a firm, but only if the revealed information would not compromise the attorney-client privilege or otherwise prejudice the client. Last but not least, the Attorney may hire a third party to work as a paralegal or legal representative to further a proper and adequate representation.
COPIES: The Attorney will provide FREE electronic copies (e-copies) of everything the Attorney mails out. If the Client wishes a hard-copy, there is COST of 50 cents per page to be paid upfront.
REFUNDS: Attorney will not refund the fee if work had substantially been performed towards the case. Partial refund may be given proportionately to the amount of time Attorney had spent towards the case.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: In the event the attorney is representing multiple parties in the same matter and conflicts amongst the parties arise (such as disagreements or domestic violence), the attorney must drop representation and refund will NOT be issued if attorney has substantially worked on the case.
NON-PAYMENT: If the client fails to make prompt payment as agreed by Attorney and Client, Attorney will send the unpaid dues to collection. If Clients cannot make payment, a new agreement can be made with the Attorney directly, but Client MUST communicate with Attorney.
THIRD-PARTY OBLIGOR RESPONSIBILITY
In the event the Client becomes detained, incarcerated, or otherwise unable to make payments under this Agreement, the undersigned third party ("Obligor"), who may be a family member or friend of the Client, agrees to assume full financial responsibility for all legal fees, costs, and expenses arising from the representation. The Obligor's obligation shall be joint and several with the Client and shall be legally binding and enforceable as if the Obligor were the Client under this Agreement. The Obligor agrees that the Attorney may seek payment directly from the Obligor for any unpaid balance without first pursuing collection from the Client.
THIS RETAINER AGREEMENT CONSTITUTES A LEGALLY BINDING CONTRACT BETWEEN ATTORNEY AND CLIENT. ATTORNEY ADVISES THE CLIENT TO READ THE RETAINER AGREEMENT CAREFULLY AND TO DISCUSS ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THE TERMS OF THE RETAINER AGREEMENT.
I hereby acknowledge that I have read this Retainer Agreement and have discussed any questions or concerns I have regarding this Retainer Agreement and have received a copy of the same. I agree to retain Attorney in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Retainer Agreement.
Date: _______________
Obligor's Signature
Date

Attorney's Signature
Date