I am not a lawyer. Can I hire you?

No, but thank you for your interest. Although I maintain my New York law license, I do not provide legal services to anyone. I only provide certain support services to other attorneys. Because I adhere to these restrictions, I can serve attorneys nationwide without engaging in the unlicensed practice of law in the jurisdictions where I am not admitted to practice.

How do I start a new project?

When you want me to take on a new project for you, please call me at (646) 360-0475 or fill out the project request form. Once I understand the basic parameters of the project, I will respond quickly with a fee estimate.

What do you charge for the initial consultation?

The initial phone consultation and fee estimate are free, whether or not we go forward with the project.

What is your rate?

I generally quote an hourly rate and a "cap," or maximum total fee, for each project. The hourly rate I use to arrive at my fee estimate varies based on the size of the project and the deadline (rush jobs may cost more, long-term projects may cost less). For example, I charge a $1,000 flat rate to produce a five-page research memo on most legal topics. When you consider how many hours an average associate would take to complete that sort of assignment (and the fact that I do not charge for Lexis and Westlaw searches), my effective hourly rate is quite reasonable. (This leaves considerable room for hiring attorneys to apply a "mark-up" to my rate when billing my services to their own client.) Because I am confident in the value I provide, I offer a money-back guarantee on your first project. (That guarantee is limited to projects requiring ten hours or less, based on my initial estimate.) I provide detailed bills, I only charge you for substantive research and writing work, and I track my time in 15-minute increments.

Do I have to pay for your research costs?

No. I cover my own subscription costs (Westlaw, Lexis and HeinOnline). I also have access to a world-class law library.

What kind of work product can you deliver?

I can deliver any law-related work product, from a short research memo to a major filing. I also have extensive experience ghost-writing articles, treatise chapters, client newsletters, and the like. Everything I produce for you will be clear, concise, and tailored to your stated preferences. You will receive professional, polished work product from an attorney with several years of experience serving demanding clients in sophisticated litigation - and at a lower hourly rate than what a first-year associate costs.

Do the services you provide constitute the practice of law?

No. Recent ethics opinions (and, in particular, ABA Formal Op. 08-451) have made it clear that attorneys are allowed to outsource research and writing functions regardless of the contractor's bar admission status. This basic principle should be familiar to any attorney who has hired a secretary, paralegal or law student to support them in their practice.

The contracting attorney must be admitted to practice in the relevant jurisdiction(s) and must personally handle any tasks that require bar admission in that jurisdiction (for example, court appearances). For research and writing work, you simply have to supervise and review the work I produce (which you would no doubt do anyway). Further, you should inform your client that you will be outsourcing certain projects to me. (You might also consider educating prospective clients about legal process outsourcing - and the attendant cost-savings - when pitching to them or preparing fee estimates.)

What about confidentiality?

Hiring me does not create an attorney-client relationship with you, your firm or your client(s). That said, I will preserve the confidentiality of any materials or information that you provide to me. Again, please do not divulge confidential information to me until we have executed the services contract.

What about conflicts?

I maintain a database of all past engagements, and I perform a thorough conflicts check before accepting any new project.

Do you subcontract work to others?

No. I will personally perform all work on your project.

Can I mark up your fee on my client's bill?

You should consult your local ethics rules on this point, but it is relatively common for firms to mark up the fees charged by their contract attorneys. Generally speaking, you must charge your client a reasonable fee for the services rendered. If the marked-up fee is still considered reasonable in your area, then you are probably acting ethically.

How do I know you'll do a good job?

You won't know that until I've completed a project for you, but I do offer a money-back guarantee on your first research project to ease any concern. (That guarantee is limited to projects requiring ten hours or less, based on my initial estimate.) For several years, I practiced with attorneys and clients who demanded excellence from me every day, and I pride myself on my work ethic, my client service skills, and the professional work product I produce.

Why don't you work at a law firm anymore?

There is nothing in my working life that makes me happier than researching and writing about the law. I learned a lot from practicing, but law firm associates tend to be Jacks of all trades, and I made a personal choice to focus on mastering this one set of skills. I also value the freedom to set my own rates and to bill my clients only for substantive research and writing work (i.e., no fees for travel, clerical tasks or other "busy work").