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 quote an hourly rate on a project-by-project basis. I also provide a fee estimate reflecting how long I expect it will take me to complete the project. My rate depends on the size of the project and the deadline (rush jobs may cost more, long-term projects may cost less). 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 30-minute increments.

Do I have to pay for your research costs?

No. I pay my own subscription costs (Westlaw 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 needs. You will receive professional, polished work product from someone with several years of experience serving demanding clients in sophisticated litigation.

Do the services you provide constitute the practice of law?

No. Numerous ethics opinions (in particular, ABA Formal Op. 08-451) have made it clear that attorneys are allowed to outsource research and writing functions regardless of the outside 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 hiring 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 must supervise, review and "sign off" on the work I produce (which you would no doubt do anyway). Further, you should inform your client that you will be outsourcing certain tasks 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 a direct attorney-client relationship with you, your firm or your client(s). Rather, because an attorney licensed in-jurisdiction (you) has final approval over my work product, our communications are protected under your own attorney-client relationship with your client. (By this same logic, your client's confidential information is protected even when divulged to your personal assistant, your paralegal or a non-lawyer consultant that you have hired. These individuals are all acting as your agents and, therefore, "your" attorney-client privilege relationship protects what they know about your client.) 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 issue, but it is relatively common for firms to mark up the fees charged by their outside contractors. Generally speaking, you must charge your client a reasonable fee for the services provided. So, if the marked-up fee is still considered reasonable in your area, then you are probably acting ethically.