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The Travis Law Firm, P.C. was established as an alternative to established law firms. We analyze our clients' legal issues from a practical and cost benefit perspective. In doing so, the Firm takes a creative, proactive, multi-disciplined and multilevel approach to solving the problems, using experienced attorneys who have an understanding of not only business, but the client's business.
We do:
- Invest in technology and systems which reduce costs.
- Invest in lawyer professional development at all levels.
- Reward attorneys for work quality, not quantity.
- Select those lawyers with substantial experience.
- Focus on developing and maintaining long term relationships.
- Work with creativity and enthusiasm.
We do not:
- Purchase nonessential property, like art collections and expensive furnishings.
- Reward billable hours by attorneys.
- Stray from our area of expertise and experience.
- Overstaff or over supervise litigation or projects.
- Establish or monitor short term financial goals for the firm.
The Travis Law Firm, P.C. from its inception, has been able to offer lower hourly rates than other law firms because we organize ourselves and manage our caseloads efficiently. We leverage technology, avoid non-productive payroll and minimize overhead expenses. Our hourly rates vary with the attorney's experience and area of practice. Generally, our rates are approximately 25% less than firms with comparable talent and experience.
In this endeavor, we have considered a variety of alternatives to the hourly-basis billing method. Alternative billing arrangements may result in sharing both the risk and reward.
The following are examples of the kind of arrangements we offer:
Standard Hourly: We are paid an agreed rate per hour for any and all work performed.
Flat phase-based or task-based fee: We are paid up to a predetermined fee for representation in a particular matter or for the performance of a specific phase or task.
Blended or fixed hourly rate: All lawyers assigned to a particular matter are billed at the same hourly rate, instead of different rates based upon the experience of the various lawyers.
Volume discount: Reduced hourly rates upon commitment to direct a particular volume of business to The Travis Law Firm, P.C.
Contingency fee, or reverse or defense contingency fee: We are paid a specified portion of any recovery obtained for the client in a particular matter. Fee partnering is accomplished by paying The Travis Law Firm, P.C. a reduced rate for representation in a matter with the understanding that a bonus would be paid in the event we obtain a "favorable result." Client and counsel would reach an agreement as to what would constitute a "favorable result" at the outset of the representation.
The Travis Law Firm, P.C. does not seek payment for firm overhead from its clients. Reimbursable disbursements are charged at actual cost to the Firm. Actual cost is defined as the amount paid by The Travis Law Firm, P.C., net of any discounts, to a third-party provider of goods or services. The Travis Law Firm, P.C. will NEVER charge for the following services and items because we consider them to be overhead:
- Secretarial services (including overtime)
- Proofreading
- Librarian services
- Word processing
- Computer printing
- Temporary help
- Office filing
- Office machine attendants (photocopy or fax "tending")
The Travis Law Firm, P.C. will seek reimbursement for necessary and reasonable travel expenses only. We will make all reasonable efforts to limit travel (for example, in litigation matters, many "local rules" allow for counsel traveling from outside the particular county to appear telephonically at case management conferences and the like) and avoid overnight stays.
Given the nature of our work, we are not always able to predict, with absolute precision, the likely cost associated with defending an action, handling a government investigation, or similar matters. Given our experience, we are able to construct litigation budgets based upon what we know similar projects have involved in the past. In handling lawsuits, we work from budgets and litigation plans where costs are estimated in advance to the maximum degree possible. Upon request, these budgets are created in consultation with our clients and only modified with their approval. We are also receptive to performing work on a budgeted or project-fee basis. We believe it is reasonable for clients to expect some level of predictability when it comes to the expenditure of our time and their money.
We have built an organization on the philosophy that we handle conflicts efficiently at the least possible expense to the client. We demonstrate our commitment by working from budgets and regularly communicating with clients concerning their legal problem, the range of available solutions and the costs associated with those various courses of action. We are receptive to taking part of the risk associated with unanticipated complications or inefficiencies.
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