We never allow a client to spend money if that cost is not worth the likely result, and we communicate well the costs/benefits of all legal options at every step of the way. Further, we will not allow clients to continue to spend money on our services, if, in our opinion, the costs–in terms of dollars, time and stress–are not justified by the likely results.

“Exceptional Communication and Exceptional Results” is not just a tagline for Lion. All of our processes and procedures are designed with our clients at the forefront, ensuring that we provide the best communication and obtain the absolute best results possible, while keeping our fees as reasonable as possible.

How does Lion Legal minimize my overall fees?

Our procedures and processes are designed to minimize your fees. In fact, Lion Legal’s average client spends significantly less than the average cost of legal services with firms comparable in skill, background and training in Arkansas. We do this by minimizing back-and-forth communication by regularly updating our clients, and always ending communication with when clients will hear from us again (so you don’t have to ask). We avoid phone tag by scheduling phone and in-person appointments, which gives us the ability to be prepared for those calls and meetings, thus shortening the meeting time. We identify potential misunderstandings early, minimizing expensive repetitive communications. Lastly, our extensive courtroom experience and overall organization means that it takes us significantly less time to prepare exhibits, witnesses, and ourselves for trials and hearings.

We believe in transparent billing.

The total cost of legal services is broken into two categories: Attorney’s Fees and Expenses. Attorney’s fees are for our professional services representing you in your matter. Expenses are costs which are directly incurred throughout your matter, such as costs charged by any entity, agency, or person other than Lion Legal. This includes but is not limited to postage and shipping, background checks, court records, expert witnesses, and electronic payment fees.

You are responsible for all surcharges and processing fees, including credit card fees, the Client Financing surcharge, wiring fees, and returned physical check fees.

Lion Legal holds your funds in our trust account. We track our time in detail, then our Billing Department creates invoices and pays them from the money you deposited. We send invoices to all of our clients at regular intervals. When you receive your invoice, you’ll see the total time spent, the attorney’s fees calculated based on our hourly rates, expenses incurred since your last invoice, and how much you have left in your account.

Flat Fees and Estimated Fees & Costs (EFCs)

How does Lion Legal determine my specific fee or EFC?

We establish an overall fee or EFC customized to the specific circumstances of your legal matter.

By hiring Lion Legal, you agree that your specific fee or estimate (depending on the type of case) as outlined in your Client Agreement is reasonable. Fees and estimates are based on many factors, including our team’s collective legal and trial skills, communication, experience, reputation and overall quality of our services.

Additional factors influencing the determination of the fee or estimate in your case include the contractual and ethical responsibility and liability undertaken by Lion Legal, and the conflict of interest immediately created by our representation of you. This conflict exists in perpetuity, and prevents our ability to accept clients in the future which would be adverse to your interests, even after your case is closed.

Other factors considered are the seriousness, quantity and nature of the charges, the location, and the procedural status at the time you hire us. We consider our anticipated time and effort in developing strategies, negotiating, drafting and responding to pleadings and motions, and the future time we will dedicate for meetings, court appearances, and trial.

A common estimated range for cases in our Probate, Family, Civil, and Real Estate/Business Divisions is $3,000-$5,000. In your phone interview we will indicate if we think your specific legal issue will skew toward the low end or the high end of that range, or higher, and why.

What legal services does my initial estimate include?

We hope that your initial estimate covers all collective time of our team in resolving your matter, as we predict at the time you hire us. This time estimate is calculated at our hourly rates based on our internal division of labor.

Will Lion Legal’s representation ever be more or less than the initial estimate?

Yes, it could be. If your case is resolved for less than our EFC, whatever amount of the advance payment of funds which are not billed at the conclusion of your matter (or our representation of you) will be returned to you. If your case requires more time or expenses than our EFC, Lion Legal will: 1) update our EFC based on the developments, and 2) our Billing Department will send you a current invoice and “Trust Request” to make additional payments, also referred to as “supplementing your trust account.”

Many legal issues cannot be resolved under the best-case scenario. Our initial estimate is based on information primarily obtained from you, or people on your behalf. Sometimes that information is incorrect or changes, which directly impacts the time, talent, and costs to resolve your matter. There could be actions of the opposing party, opposing attorney, or the court that cannot be prevented or predicted.

Our commitment is to do everything possible to not exceed your estimate without discussing with you the costs, benefits, risks, and likely results of your legal options. While many factors which may affect whether your matter is resolved within your estimate are outside of your control, factors you can control include providing the information requested timely, reasonable communication with us, and keeping your contact information up to date.

Payment Plans

We allow clients to deposit ½ of their initial estimate and set up a bi-weekly or weekly payment plan for the other half. Cases with an EFC of $1,500 or less require the remaining 50% balance to be paid in full within 30 days of onboarding. Cases with an EFC of over $1,500 must be paid in full within 60 days of hiring us, with payments made at least every two weeks.

This is for the benefit of our clients. If the payment plan is extended, it delays the case, which negatively impacts the progress and results. It’s much better to get your matter paid in full within our general billing policies, so we can hit the ground running.

What are Lion Legal’s hourly rates?

Some specific cases, such as criminal defense, will be a flat fee. For most cases, we bill by the hour. Our rates:

• Partners/Managing Attorneys: $350/hour
• Associate Attorneys: $250/hour
• Professional Support Staff: $150/hour

We strive for our clients to be billed primarily at Associate Attorney rates, but circumstances may arise in your matter which require Partners or Managing Attorneys to work on your file at our higher hourly rate.

You’re investing in more than our time. You’re securing expertise, prowess, and commitment. Think of it as buying peace of mind, by the hour.

What about after-hours rates?

Our after-hours rates are double our normal rates, and apply only:
1) in circumstances of your case which (because of any action or inaction by anyone other than Lion Legal) require us to work outside our normal business hours
2) if you request us to provide services outside our normal business hours
3) if during our normal business hours, we provide immediate attention to you because you alleged an emergency, and we determine the circumstances were not an emergency. Our after-hours rates apply in this circumstance because we schedule our work, hearings, and appointments in advance. If we unexpectedly and unnecessarily provide immediate attention to you, then we are forced to meet other obligations outside our normal business hours.

Choose clarity. Choose Lion Legal.