The decision to proceed without an attorney is an important one. Legal proceedings can be complicated and it is strongly recommended that you at least consult with an experienced attorney before making the decision to represent yourself.
When choosing an attorney, the client should also take into consideration the amount of contact which he or she expects to have with the lead trial lawyer. In many larger firms, many tasks are delegated to junior attorneys or associates. When hiring a sole practitioner, the client can expect that he or she will have the same lawyer handle the case from beginning to end.
Over many years of practice, Mr. Fritzen has not hesitated to take on some of the largest firms in New Jersey, including complex, multi-party lawsuits in both State and Federal Court. However, if your matter might be better handled by a larger firm, Mr. Fritzen will not hesitate to suggest a referral.
Nothing. Initial conferences, whether in person or by phone, are free of charge.
The fees charged vary on the type of your matter. Personal injury and collection claims are generally handled on a contingency basis, where no legal fee is due unless you collect money more than the costs incurred.
In many other matters such as consumer fraud claims, discrimination claims, and landlord/tenant matters, various statutes or court rules may allow for collection of attorney fees from the opposing side.
In matrimonial matters and commercial claims, the fees charged are calculated on an hourly basis. The New Jersey Rules of Court prohibit contingency fees in matrimonial cases. In criminal cases and municipal court matters, the fees are generally a one-time or “flat” fee, regardless of the number of court appearances. Alternatively the firm may charge a graduated fee, where fees are due in increments during the case and depending on the amount of work involved, in an effort to keep expense to a minimum.
Depending upon the type of case, you may be asked to pay a retainer toward anticipated fees and costs. The amount of that retainer (if any) if any, varies based on the type of case and expected complexity of your particular matter. The nature of the fee agreement and any required retainer in your particular case will be discussed, and any questions you might have will be answered to your full satisfaction, before you decide to retain the firm.
While not all matters are handled on an hourly basis, Mr. Fritzen currently charges $295.00 per hour. If that rate should change, the client will be notified in advance.
You can also contact the office to discuss your particular type of case to determine specifically what experience we have in a certain type of litigation or legal concern. If we are unable to assist you in your matter, Mr. Fritzen will not hesitate to suggest a referral (at no cost to you) to an attorney or law firm that may better able to assist you in your particular case. In 20 years of practice, Mr. Fritzen has developed an extensive network of contacts who may be able to better assist you if we cannot.
We take cases throughout New Jersey.
We do not handle tax or bankruptcy cases, trusts, estate administration, workers compensation or social security cases. However, should you have need for these services we can often refer you to an attorney who does this kind of work. It is important to us that the client receives not just representation, but representation by an attorney skilled in your type of matter.
Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee the result of any case, regardless of how strong the claims. The reality of litigation is that it is very different than what is shown on television or in movies. Court cases can be very costly and the results are unpredictable. “Winning” a case is usually accompanied by some kind of loss, whether it is time, expense, or the emotional strain of litigation. However, Mr. Fritzen will do his best to aggressively advocate your case to obtain a result favorable and acceptable to you as the client.
The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as giving legal advice, nor does use of the website create an attorney/client relationship between the firm and the user.
You should not act upon any information contained without seeking advice from an attorney licensed in your state or country. You should not send any confidential information (including but not limited to Social Security numbers, personal identifiers or time-sensitive material thorough this website without first contacting the firm.