Not necessarily. In many circumstances, we are able to meet with you at a location near your home or workplace if you reside in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. For clients elsewhere, we can handle your case without ever meeting in person, Much of what we do can be done via communications over the telephone and email.

A client must sign our office’s standard engagement agreement which plainly states the terms of our relationship. Once the retainer is received,  your representation will begin.

Let us know the services you need, using our contact forms and we will get back to you shortly.

You are entitled to know, to the extent that we can reasonably inform you, what your fee will be.  We encourage a frank, open discussion about our fees with each client at the time of the first interview.

Lawyers are paid under various fee arrangements.

Flat fee:
On a flat fee basis, your legal fee is a stated sum for agreed upon services.  Unless otherwise agreed, the hourly fee basis will be the presumed fee arrangement.

Hourly fee:
On an hourly fee basis, fees are based on an hourly rate for services rendered.  A detailed, itemized bill will be given to you showing all work done on your case.  This explanation may come monthly or at the end of your case, whichever way you choose to be billed. 

Contingency fee:
On a contingency fee basis, your legal fees will be based on the amount of recovery we get for you; no recovery, no fee.  You may have the option of choosing this plan in lieu of other options in limited cases. However, not all cases qualify for the contingency basis; we will tell you if yours does.  In either case, we will prepare for you an engagement agreement setting forth the fee arrangement.

Other potential fees:
A pre-payment will often be required in order to begin to process your matter and you will be kept advised as to how that pre-payment is being used.  Bills will be sent to you periodically showing your charges and payments.

We try to keep legal fees as reasonable as possible.  The amount of services required, however, is not fully within our control.  We discuss with our client options for services and the benefits of services.   Sometimes, however, services are directly related to an opposing party’s action or inaction.  Please feel free to discuss fees with your lawyer.

In addition to legal fees, there could be various expenses that must be paid to others in order to prepare your legal matter. For example, payments may be required to obtain necessary evidences or copies of necessary documents,  to obtain licenses or permits from governmental authorities, to file suits in courts of law, in addition to other outside entities that are necessary to help your cause. Generally, the amounts of these charges will be in direct proportion to the complexity of the matter involved. The easier your matter is to solve, the less these costs will ordinarily be.

At the start of your legal matter, we will try to estimate for you the amount of out-of-pocket expenses which may be incurred on your behalf. We will discuss with you whether or when you will be required to reimburse us for these expenditures which are made on your behalf to further your legal cause.