How We Work With You

Our commitment is to make sure that everyone with whom we come in contact is treated promptly and fairly.

• Prospective Client Calls
• Initial Attorney Conversation
• Initial Consultation

Prospective Client Calls

Initial contact with O&G is made through the Initial Client Questionnaire form found on this website or through a telephone call. Most calls are handled initially by an O&G client services representative, either a junior attorney or a paralegal. Basic information toward creating a client profile will be developed, such as the name of the employer involved in a dispute or disagreement and a short statement of the reason for the call. Home and work telephone numbers and best times to call are also requested.

Following the initial contact, the client services representative will arrange for the appropriate O&G lawyer to call. All calls are returned as promptly as possible - generally within 24 to 48 hours.

Emergency Response. When a prospective client requires an immediate response, the client service representative will try to accommodate callers to the extent possible and arrange for an available O&G lawyer to take the call.

Specific Attorney Requests and Follow-up. While a prospective client may request a specific O&G lawyer, the requested lawyer may not be the one who returns the client call. That attorney may not be available, or another attorney may be better qualified to handle the case. In either situation, the prospective client will be apprised of the change and the reason.

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Initial Attorney Conversation

Initial conversation with an O&G attorney will be via telephone and generally will be fairly brief, seldom more than a few minutes. The attorney may ask questions to continue developing the client profile and will try to answer briefly any client questions. The O&G attorney will suggest what documents the client should bring to an initial consultation. The attorney will also answer any questions about O&G's billing practices and advise the caller of O&G's policy on charges for consultations.

We prefer not to call clients or prospective clients at work. If we must do so, we will leave only a discreet message, such as a first name and telephone number.

During the initial conversation, the attorney cannot and will not provide substantive legal advice, as doing so on the basis of a few minutes over the telephone is irresponsible. Instead, the conversation is used to determine a practical, responsible next step for the client to pursue and may result in one of the following:

1. The scheduling of an initial consultation session at O&G's office to discuss the details of a client's problem or claim.
2. The decision by the lawyer and/or prospective client that the matter is not suitable for O&G to handle.
3. The referral of the prospective client to another attorney or to a government agency.
4. The decision by the client to rethink the issue and/or call back later.

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The Initial Consultation

The goal of this session is for the client to gain a clear understanding of the situation (including applicable law) and to develop a plan on how to proceed with handling the problem or claim.

Generally, the O&G lawyer will budget 60 to 90 minutes for the initial consultation. If additional time is needed, a scheduling change should be discussed beforehand. Clients are expected to arrive on time, and the O&G attorney should be available at the appointed time. If either the client or the lawyer cannot make the appointed time or expects to be delayed, the other person should be called as promptly as possible. For that reason, clients should always provide O&G with home and work telephone numbers, and mobile telephone numbers if relevant, in case a consultation must be postponed or delayed.

O&G's policy is to maintain client-focused consultations. During the consultation, telephone calls to the lawyer's office are diverted; no calls will be taken, except for emergencies. Interruptions, if any, during consultations should be minimal.

Client Chronology.
It is often useful to both client and lawyer for the client to prepare prior to the consultation a short chronology of material events. This saves time and helps organize support data and documentation.

Client Documentation.
Clients should be prepared to locate and bring documents, to the extent available and relevant, such as: any written agreements between the employer and the employee (e.g., employment, compensation, or non-compete agreements); any offer letters or other letters relating to the terms or conditions of employment; any proposed severance agreement or release; published severance policies or procedures; any other relevant company manuals, policies, or procedures; all relevant benefit plans, summary plan descriptions, and statements; relevant performance appraisals, evaluations and notices; and all correspondence, memos, emails, or notes relevant to the issues involved. Finally, an organization chart, even an unofficial hand-drawn one, can help the lawyer more quickly learn who the relevant players are and where the client fits in the company. The lawyer may ask the client to send some of these documents to the office for review before the consultation session. (Note: Time spent reviewing such documents in preparation for the session is part of the consultation charge.)

Consultation Process and Plan of Action.
For this session, the O&G lawyer gathers, as efficiently as possible, all relevant information, ascertains the client's objectives, evaluates the legal and non-legal aspects of the situation, develops and analyzes possible strategies and tactics, and develops a plan of action. To the extent appropriate, O&G tries to empower the client to act on his or her own. Often, this is the most effective, as well as cost efficient, approach.

Sometimes the initial consultation may be all that is necessary and is the end of the attorney-client relationship; in that situation, the client proceeds on his or her own based on the results of the consultation. Often, however, both parties recognize the value of the client staying in touch with the attorney, either as events unfold or for further advice and guidance. Such a coaching role is fairly common in O&G's practice.

And, of course, many times the initial consultation is just the beginning of a longer, more substantial attorney-client relationship.

Initial Consultation Fees.
The client is expected to pay for the initial consultation (including preparation time) at the end of the consultation. Checks are preferred; credit cards are accepted. To the extent that the client and lawyer expect the attorney-client relationship to continue beyond the initial consultation, future fee arrangements and a retainer agreement should then be discussed.

In exceptional circumstances (e.g., a person with an obvious claim who simply cannot afford the consultation fee), the consultation fee might be reduced or capped, or even waived. These special circumstances must be discussed before attending an initial consultation.

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