OPEN COMMUNICATION:
Mr. Oberman makes a special effort to maintain client communication. He understands the emotional stress which accompanies legal problems requiring litigation (trial) preparation. A 24-hour answering device is used so that Mr. Oberman may be reached in the event of an emergency.
PRACTICE LOCALE:
Although Mr. Oberman is located in Knoxville, he is available for work throughout Tennessee and the United States. As a less expensive alternative to hiring Mr. Oberman on an out-of-town case, Mr. Oberman may be retained to consult with certain lawyers so that a client can obtain the benefit of Mr. Oberman's knowledge without incurring travel expenses.
INDIVIDUAL CONSULTATION:
Before retaining Mr. Oberman for representation on a DUI/DWI charge in Knoxville or elsewhere, he recommends that you meet to receive an individual consultation during which Mr. Oberman will obtain the necessary facts to evaluate your case and then provide you with an explanation of the law and procedures which are applicable to your case. There is no charge for this initial meeting.
FEES:
If Mr. Oberman believes he can assist you, the details of the fee agreement will be discussed in detail. A written contract will be prepared and your approval obtained before you become obligated to pay any fees on either a criminal or civil case.
CRIMINAL CASES:
It is unethical for a lawyer to accept a criminal case on a contingency basis (based on whether or not you win the case). Therefore, in most cases, Mr. Oberman will attempt to arrange either a retainer, which will be billed against an hourly fee, or a mutually agreed upon payment schedule of a flat rate fee so long as the fees are paid in full before the final disposition of your case.
A flat rate fee provides the client with the knowledge of the maximum fee prior to retaining Mr. Oberman. Most of the time a mutually agreeable payment schedule can be reached so long as the fees are paid within three to four months after the arrest. Of course, exceptions do exist which may extend the payment schedule even further. If Mr. Oberman agrees to accept the case, in most circumstances a fee will be quoted at the time of the initial consultation.
AMOUNT OF FEES IN DUI/DWI, TRAFFIC OR OTHER CRIMINAL CASES:
Prospective clients are naturally interested in the amount of the attorney's fees - and they should be. Unfortunately, because the facts of cases may differ so dramatically, it is impossible to provide an accurate estimate of the fees without detailed information about the case. Mr. Oberman works hard to keep his fees and expenses to a minimum. He considers factors such as the difficulty of the DUI/DWI or other case; the anticipated time required; his experience, ability and reputation; and the desired goal of the client. Mr. Oberman, however, will not accept a case unless he has the necessary resources to zealously and ethically defend his client. This means that additional funds to retain investigators, experts, court reporters and others may be necessary. Mr. Oberman is pleased to provide the ability to charge your attorney fees on most major credit cards through epayops.com.
AMOUNT OF FEES IN CIVIL CASES:
Although hourly contracts are sometimes used, most civil cases are accepted on a contingency fee basis. A contingency fee means that Mr. Oberman is paid a percentage of the recovery you win. In most cases, the fee is one-third (33 1/3%) of what is collected. One exception is worker's compensation cases, where the fee is generally twenty percent (20%) of what is collected.
DECIDING WHO TO HIRE:
You should choose the best attorney you can afford. Interview prospective attorneys before you hire them. Consider and ask any prospective lawyer the following questions:
 Is the attorney certified as a specialist in DUI Defense Law by the
Tennessee Commission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization and the National College for DUI Defense, Inc.
Has the attorney published any books or articles on DUI defense? Has the attorney lectured to his or her peers on topics relating to DUI defense?
Is the attorney certified by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to give field sobriety tests?
Is the majority of the attorney's practice devoted to DUI defense?
Did you find the attorney through a referral from a lawyer, friend, or someone familiar with your legal community, as opposed to receiving a direct-mail advertisement?
Has the attorney continuously maintained his or her law license?
Has the attorney been awarded the highest possible peer rating by the renowned Martindale-Hubbell rating system for his or her legal and ethical standards?
Does the attorney regularly use a licensed private investigator with former law enforcement experience?
Does the attorney have a practice courtroom in his or her office to prepare for trial?
You should hire Steve Oberman because he can answer "Yes" to every one of the above questions.
|
