How to Communicate with a Lawyer

Please be advised that we do not intend for any unsolicited e-mail to create a lawyer-client relationship or an obligation of confidentiality. Before sending us any information which you intend to be protected by a lawyer-client relationship or by an obligation of confidentiality, please contact us by means of a communication that does not reveal any confidential information, and do not send any confidential information until we have advised you to do so.

How to Hire an Employment Law Lawyer

FAQ’s about Employment Law Legal Fees

Kramer + Crone on the Internet

What are Consultations and Initial Client Conferences

For Information About Consultations

To Whom You Should Send E-mail

What Really Needs to be in the E-mail

If it is an Emergency

WARNING

Why We Cannot Answer Legal Questions Over E-mail

We receive e-mail and phone calls every day from individuals seeking legal advice. Some ask simple questions. Some are desperate pleas for help. We cannot answer questions, give legal advice, or quote fee rates over e-mail for several reasons.

First, we provide legal advice to clients only. Several things would need to happen before Kramer + Crone, PLC, could agree to accept a new client. When a person calls for the first time, the firm must do a conflict check to see whether accepting the new client would present a conflict with any existing clients of the firm. To do this, we would need to know your full name and address and the identity of any parties adverse to you. It would also be necessary for you to tell us, without revealing any confidential information, the general nature of your situation. If our conflict check did not reveal any known conflicts, then we would be able to proceed. We would describe our billing rates and policies to you.

Second, in order to answer questions accurately, we may need to ask you several questions or review documents, which cannot easily be done via e-mail.

Third, because there is no confidentiality with e-mail, some authorities have suggested that this would be a violation of ethical restrictions. Also, we have no way to know whether or not the person is who he or she claims or is already represented by another attorney.

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What are Consultations and Initial Client Conferences

A "consultation" is a meeting with one of our attorneys to discuss possible representation or to obtain a legal opinion on an issue without further representation. Our attorneys often give valuable advice and render other important legal services during a consultation, even though there may not be a long-term attorney-client relationship. A consultation can last anywhere from half an hour to four hours or longer, depending on the circumstances and the complexity of the situation and applicable law. Some questions cannot be answered during a consultation because they may involve further factual discovery or legal research, but we will make every effort to answer every question you may have to the best of our ability.

A "telephone consultation" is just like a regular consultation, except for the fact that it occurs over the telephone. We usually only offer telephone consultations to people who live outside the Memphis, Tennessee, area. Whenever possible, we prefer to meet "face to face" during consultations, in part so that we can examine any important documents you may have with you and in part just so we can get to know you better. This also gives you an opportunity to see our offices and meet our support staff.

Whether the consultation is in person or via telephone, we must both be prepared in advance. You should gather all important documentary evidence of your situation and send a copy for us to review before the conference. Your consultation fee will cover the cost for us to review those documents. The pre-consultation review will make the consultation more productive. These documents should arrive in our office at least 48 hours before the consultation is set.

An "initial client conference" is similar to a consultation but differs in that the potential client, even though visiting us for the first time, has already decided beforehand that he or she wants to retain our firm as counsel. If you are visiting us for an initial client conference, be assured that we appreciate the fact that you have chosen us to represent you and that you have placed your trust in our abilities. Please understand, however, that, even though you have chosen us, we reserve the unconditional right not to represent you. There are many reasons why we might decide not to represent you, but if we make such a decision, it should never be taken personally.

Finally, we bill for our time and advice on all consultations and initial client conferences. Depending on the circumstances, we may require payment in advance, via a certified check. Fees vary according to the attorney, the type of problem you have, and the complexity of the legal issues involved. Understand that the time we spend in a consultation is time we are not spending on working on our existing clients’ cases. Feel free to inquire at any time before, during, or after the consultation about the consultation fees and/or the possible costs of any future representation. We want you to feel comfortable with the arrangements so that you can get the most out of your visit with us.

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For Information Concerning Consultations

Please call Alan Crone’s paralegal at (901) 527-5522. After she obtains some basic information, she will assist you with any additional questions you may have regarding our services, our fees, and our charge for consultations. Then you can choose to schedule an appointment. During or after the consultation, you may decide whether or not you wish to proceed with engaging our firm as your legal counsel. We always encourage persons looking for an attorney to speak to more than one lawyer or firm. The most important concern is that you find the attorney that is right for you.

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To Whom You Should Send E-mail

If you want basic information regarding our firm or you want to schedule an in-person or telephone conference, please send the information listed below via e-mail or call.

If you want to contact Alan Crone directly via e-mail for any reason, feel free to do so. If he is not in court or out of town, your e-mail will likely be read promptly. If you do not receive a response within 48 hours, feel free to resend your request or contact us by e-mail or phone.

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What Really Needs to be in the E-mail

• Sender’s full name and mailing address (including city).
• All of the sender’s telephone numbers, including home, work, pager, and cell phone.
• State which numbers are best to contact you and at what times.
• State which phone numbers should NOT be called or which phone numbers where messages should NOT be left.
• If you are currently represented by an attorney, state the name of the attorney.
• Ask only very simple questions. Do not tell us any facts about your case because that information cannot necessarily be kept confidential.
• Remember: While Alan Crone is often available to answer e-mail, our first priority is to our existing clients and families.
• We would also appreciate your listing how and where you found us on the Internet. (For example, the name of a friend who was a former client or the name of the web site or search engine you used to find us.)
• Finally, your comments and suggestions for the web site are always welcome.

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If it is an Emergency

We understand. Emergencies happen. First, call us. If we are not immediately available, tell the person answering the phone that your problem is an emergency. Every effort will be made to find us immediately. If Alan Crone cannot be reached, please leave a detailed message, and your phone call will be returned as soon as humanly possible. Only existing clients will be allowed to call Alan Crone at home after business hours.

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WARNING

Transmission and receipt of materials, including e-mail, via this web site or directly to the firm's attorneys do not create an attorney-client relationship. Persons who have not retained our firm's services who elect to transmit e-mail to the firm or an attorney of the firm should have no expectation of any protected privilege, and Kramer + Crone, PLC, reserves the right to disclose said transmissions to other persons. We do not, and cannot, guarantee the security of e-mail communications.

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