​* No legal advice is provided until engagement is complete. 
* I am not a legal aid barrister, I am private counsel.
​* If you need legal aid, please find legal aid barristers at this link here: 
https://www2.justice.govt.nz/find-a-legal-aid-lawyer/​  
​* I recommend Community Law Centres as being a good first point of call also: 
​https://communitylaw.org.nz/​

"I visit and contact clients in custody, regularly."

GENERAL ENGAGEMENT PROCESS + SAMPLE PROPOSAL FOR ENGAGEMENT ​


​The Sample Proposal for Engagement (PfE) is a sample only and the fees, retainer, and general and specific terms and conditions within the body of the sample PfE may differ markedly from the PfE issued to you.

Yes, the PfE is usually about 15 or more pages long, but this is the document that details the terms of our engagement, so it's important we begin on the same page. 

Please take a look at both the general engagement process, and the sample PfE on this page. I look forward to hearing from you soon!
1
You enquire direct with me, or, you direct your solicitor to enquire with me.
If you are sending me key documents, please send these  docs to me in pdf or word form, not as images/photos pasted into the body of emails. 
​
2
I have a free telephone consultation with you (approx 15 minutes, depending on the matter).
It is helpful to send me some key documents beforehand so that I may have a perusal.
​No legal advice, legal opinions, or 'chances of success' are given until engagement is complete. 
3
If I think I can assist you, I will provide you with my ordinary hourly rate for your matter, and what kind of initial retainer may be required, or if I consider a fixed fee is appropriate at my exclusive discretion, I will indicate this to you that I may offer you a fixed fee in my Proposal for Engagement to you, if I think work can be appropriately and fairly scoped. A Proposal for Engagement will be sent to you via email within 72 hours. 

*If I don't think I can assist you, I will provide a recommendation to you as to which barrister I think may be able to help you or I will direct you to search for a specific type of barrister. If I think your matter is better handled by a law firm of solicitors, I will recommend a firm to you.*
4
If you wish to receive a Proposal for Engagement from me, once you receive your proposal, I ask that you take at least a day to properly consider the letter, your litigation budget, what your goals are in the litigation, and what evidence you have to hand currently you can send to me or show me.  Please note, all engagement letters have a strict 5 calendar day expiry.  

Experience has demonstrated to me that it is very important that a client properly considers the funds they have on hand to pay for the litigation, and funds that they may be able to gain access to via credit, whether a family member or friend can advance funds to you as a loan or gift, or some other arrangement. 
5
Once you consider my Proposal for Engagement, and agree with the terms, conditions, and fees, you can then sign the last page and return to me via email, or indicate your acceptance in writing via email or text message referring to the proposal for engagement. In urgent circumstances, oral acceptance is fine. 
6
If a solicitor is necessary at the outset, you may be asked to pay an initial retainer to the solicitor's trust account (further retainers may be required). The solicitor can be one of your choosing, or I can nominate a solicitor myself. For reverse briefs, I generally use a few solicitors in central and south Auckland. On my reverse briefs webpage on this website, I answer some FAQ's about reverse briefs for you. 
7
Once any retainer or fixed fee is paid and the Proposal for Engagement is signed, we can get to work and start flying!