Fees and Billing Information
Like most of our clients, we live and work in New Hampshire, so we don't charge Boston or New York rates. We bill at a fair and competitive rate, which reflects our extensive experience as trial lawyers practicing in the New Hampshire courts for more than 15 years.
Criminal and DWI Cases
In most criminal and DWI (DUI, OUI) cases, we agree to cap our fees, so that you know from the moment you hire us what the cost will be. We don't want our clients to be afraid to give us a call when they have a question, or to worry that a 2 minute phone call is going to cost them $60 or more.
In capped fee cases, we estimate the cost of representation for the entire case. If it takes more time or costs us more than we anticipated, we generally bear that cost.
It is our practice to provide a free initial consulation by telephone. An office consultation, which generally lasts 30 minutes to an hour, will likely follow. Office consultations involve a review of the charging documents, a discussion of the client's history, and a general assessment of what might be expected in the case. Office consultations typically cost between $75-$100 (substantially lower than our hourly rates). If you hire us to represent you, this will be deducted from the fee. In some cases, we may agree to waive the fee of an initial office visit. If you have questions about this, please let us know in advance.
Cost of Representation
The estimated cost of representation is determined on a case-by-case basis. There are a number of factors we consider in criminal and DWI cases, such as the type of charge, the difficulty of the legal questions involved, the time and labor required to properly perform the necessary legal services, and, if necessary, the financial circumstances of the client. For specific information about the cost of representation, give us a call.
In personal injury matters, we typically work on a contingency basis, which means that we do not get paid unless you do.
In family court matters, we generally charge hourly, but may agree to cap our fees or work on a contingency basis when permitted to do so by the Rules of Professional Conduct. Call around - you'll find that our hourly rates are reasonable and competitive with other area firms.
Committed to Serving New Hampshire
Joe Welsh and Richard Samdperil strongly believe that lawyers have a responsibility to serve the needs of the people in their local communities.
Our lawyers live in Portsmouth and Exeter, NH. Our offices are in Portsmouth and Exeter. And we have friends and family throughout the Seacoast. These are our communities, and we remain committed to providing high quality legal representation in all areas of practice.
