Terms of service

 

  • Steve Rice Law ("Firm") has terms of service that govern our service plans, and other matters. See below for the terms. The applicable terms govern all fee agreements involving Firm.

  • SERVICES

    Firm charges a flat fee for the services in the basic plan. The plan includes representation by an attorney from Firm at all court events, one consultation per case, and all reasonably necessary preparation.

    The basic plan is for cases that, in Firm’s opinion, are not contested or that do not involve extraordinary circumstances (e.g., Client needs more than 1 consultation per case).

    Firm has a duty to provide the services to you in exchange for payment of the fee, which is earned upon agreement or receipt, whichever occurs first. The payment is not refundable except as explained below under "ONLINE STORE TRANSACTIONS."

    Services that are different than those listed, or that are requested or called for due to extraordinary circumstances, are not included in the flat fee. Client must pay Firm for such services according to Firm’s hourly fee schedule, which is based on a rate per hour.

    EXPENSES

    Expenses are typically not included in the fee for services. You must pay the cost of all such expenses.

    Prepaid expenses are refundable. Any prepaid expense that has not been incurred or included will be refunded at the end of case for Firm unless a payment is due.

    PAYMENTS

    Payment for all services and any expenses must be prompt. A payment is prompt only if it is (1) in a form acceptable to Firm and (2) made upon demand or by a due date(s), whichever occurs first. Firm may or may not demand prepayment.

    DEPOSITS

    The fee for services will be deposited into a Firm operating account. Any prepaid (and not included) expense will be deposited into a Firm trust account and moved to a Firm operating account as expenses are incurred.

    ONLINE STORE TRANSACTIONS

    The fee quoted on our website at our Online Store is discounted from Firm’s regular fee. To be eligible for the discount, you must pay using the online checkout process on Firm’s website. You are not eligible for the discount after a free consultation. But you are eligible for a full refund within 7 days of checkout as long as no court event is scheduled during such time. This should give you adequate time for an initial consultation and to try Firm on for size.

    Payment of the fee using our online checkout process will be treated as an offer by you. Before representation will begin, Firm must accept the offer. Firm will provide notice of acceptance after Firm has reviewed the case and determined that Firm is available and that the plan chosen is appropriate. The notice will normally occur at the end of the initial consultation. You are eligible for a full refund if Firm does not accept the offer within 7 days of checkout.

  • Under Firm's basic plan, you ARE eligible for a refund (but you are not eligible for a free consultation) as long as you pay using the online checkout process at the Online Store on Firm's website:

    • You are eligible for a full refund within 7 days of checkout. This should give you adequate time for an initial consultation and to try Firm on for size.

    • You are also eligible for a refund after checkout if Firm declines representation for any reason.

  • SERVICES

    Firm charges a flat fee for the services in the standard plan. The plan includes representation by an attorney from Firm at all court events, one consultation per event, and all reasonably necessary preparation.

    The standard plan is for cases that, in Firm’s opinion, are not contested or that do not involve extraordinary circumstances (e.g., Client needs more than 1 consultation per event).

    Firm has a duty to provide the services to you in exchange for payment of the fee, which is earned upon agreement or receipt, whichever occurs first. The payment is not refundable except as explained below under "ONLINE STORE TRANSACTIONS."

    Services that are different than those listed, or that are requested or called for due to extraordinary circumstances, are not included in the flat fee. Client must pay Firm for such services according to Firm’s hourly fee schedule, which is based on a rate per hour.

    EXPENSES

    Expenses are typically not included in the fee for services. Client must pay the cost of all such expenses.

    Prepaid expenses are refundable. Any prepaid expense that has not been incurred or included will be refunded at the end of case for Firm unless a payment is due.

    PAYMENTS

    Payment for all services and any expenses must be prompt. A payment is prompt only if it is (1) in a form acceptable to Firm and (2) made upon demand or by a due date(s), whichever occurs first. Firm may or may not demand prepayment.

    DEPOSITS

    The fee for services will be deposited into a Firm operating account. Any prepaid (and not included) expense will be deposited into a Firm trust account and moved to a Firm operating account as expenses are incurred.

    ONLINE STORE TRANSACTIONS

    The fee quoted on our website at our Online Store is discounted from Firm’s regular fee. To be eligible for the discount, you must pay using the online checkout process on Firm’s website. You are not eligible for the discount after a free consultation. But you are eligible for a full refund within 7 days of checkout as long as no court event is scheduled during such time. This should give you adequate time for an initial consultation and to try Firm on for size.

    Payment of the fee using our online checkout process will be treated as an offer by you. Before representation will begin, Firm must accept the offer. Firm will provide notice of acceptance after Firm has reviewed the case and determined that Firm is available and that the plan chosen is appropriate. The notice will normally occur at the end of the initial consultation. You are eligible for a full refund if Firm does not accept the offer within 7 days of checkout.

  • Under Firm's standard plan, you ARE eligible for a refund (but you are not eligible for a free consultation) as long as you pay using the online checkout process at the Online Store on Firm's website:

    • You are eligible for a full refund within 7 days of checkout. This should give you adequate time for an initial consultation and to try Firm on for size.

    • You are also eligible for a refund after checkout if Firm declines representation for any reason.

  • SERVICES

    Firm normally charges a flat fee for the services in the custom plan. The plan includes representation by an attorney from Firm at court events, consultations, support, and prep work as agreed by Firm and you.

    Firm has a duty to provide the services to you in exchange for payment of the fee, which is earned upon agreement or receipt, whichever occurs first. The payment is not refundable except as explained below under "ONLINE TRANSACTIONS."

    Services that are different than those listed, or that are requested or called for due to extraordinary circumstances, are not included in the flat fee. Client must pay Firm for such services according to Firm’s hourly fee schedule, which is based on a rate per hour.

    EXPENSES

    Expenses are typically not included in the fee for services. You must pay the cost of all such expenses.

    Prepaid expenses are refundable. Any prepaid expense that has not been incurred or included will be refunded at the end of case for Firm unless a payment is due.

    PAYMENTS

    Payment for all services and any expenses must be prompt. A payment is prompt only if it is (1) in a form acceptable to Firm and (2) made upon demand or by a due date(s), whichever occurs first. Firm may or may not demand prepayment.

    DEPOSITS

    The fee for services will be deposited into a Firm operating account. Any prepaid (and not included) expense will be deposited into a Firm trust account and moved to a Firm operating account as expenses are incurred.

    ONLINE TRANSACTIONS

    To be eligible for any discount quoted on our website through our app for booking consultations, you must book a consultation using the app and pay in full at the end of the consultation.

  • Under Firms's custom plan, you ARE NOT not normally eligible for a refund (but you may be eligible for a free consultation to evaluate Firm's services).

  • If you do not have a flat fee agreement with us, or you require services outside of a service plan that is based on a flat fee, Firm will charge you a fee for services based on our standard fee schedule based on a rate per hour.

    The schedule takes into account the rate per hour of the person from Firm providing the service and the minimum time increment used. Occasionally, there may be a minimum fee.

    RATE PER HOUR

    Firm charges the following rates per hour, including time appearing for, consulting for, and preparing for court, as well as related travel:

    $525 per hour for Steve Rice (Attorney)

    $400 per hour for David Erhard (Attorney)

    $275 per hour for other attorneys

    $150 per hour for law clerks, interns, students (regardless of title)

    $150 per hour for paralegals

    $100 per hour for other support staff (regardless of title)

    If more than one person from Firm appears for an event, you will be billed only for the person with the higher rate and not both people unless you consent.

    MINIMUM TIME

    Firm may use the following minimum time increments for uncontested cases:

    1.0 hours for appearances for court or other purposes

    0.5 hours for consultations

    0.5 hours for preparation for court, consultations, or other events

    0.1 hours for other work

    Firm may use the following minimum time increments for contested cases:

    2.0 hours for appearances for court or other purposes

    1.0 hours for consultations

    1.0 hours for preparation

    0.1 hours for other work

    MINIMUM FEE

    Firm may or may not charge a minimum fee to resolve the case. If there is a minimum fee, the fee agreement will say so in writing.

  • Unless you have a flat fee agreement with us, the fee will not be earned until the service is provided or work related to the service is done. Any unused portion of a prepaid fee will be refunded unless there is a payment due.

  • Unless otherwise agreed, extraordinary circumstances include, but are not limited to:

    • The scope of services to be provided to Client by Firm changes.

    • More than one court appearance per court event is or becomes required.

    • More than 6 months elapses between the hire date or consultation and the court event.

    • Client needs more consultations than allotted or more than time than allotted for consultations (that is, 0.5 hours per consultation for uncontested court events and 1.0 hours per consultation for contested court events).

    • Client is or becomes incarcerated and requires attorney to travel to prison for consultations. Any consultation will take place at a Firm office, by phone, by Zoom or equivalent, time permitting. If there is not enough time between the hire date and a court event for such a consultation, it may take place at the courthouse.

    • The strategy Client wants to use changes (e.g., from not contesting to contesting the charges).

    • Client does not respect the time of our firm (for example, misses meetings without prior notice, does not respond promptly to communications, or is otherwise not readily accessible).

    • Client did not give Firm notice about other extraordinary needs or complications s/he has that s/he knew or should have known would effect the amount of time Firm would need to invest in the case.