The Process
What to Expect After You Contact the Office
A clear first step for employment law and judgment enforcement matters
Contacting a lawyer can feel like a large step, especially if you are dealing with a workplace problem, unpaid wages, a severance agreement, or a judgment that has not been paid. My goal is to make the first step straightforward: you explain the situation, I review whether it fits my practice, and I give you a realistic sense of what may come next.
I personally review inquiries. If your matter appears appropriate for my practice, the next step is usually a focused conversation about the facts, timing, documents, and practical goals. If the issue is outside my practice or location, I will try to say that clearly so you do not lose time.
The Initial Review
Information That Helps
You do not need to organize a perfect file before reaching out. A short, accurate summary is often enough to begin. If you have documents, the following are often helpful:
- For employment matters: paystubs, schedules, offer letters, contracts, severance agreements, emails, texts, complaints, discipline records, and dates of key events.
- For wage claims: approximate hours worked, pay rates, pay frequency, job duties, and whether you were treated as salaried, hourly, tipped, cash-paid, or 1099.
- For judgment enforcement: the judgment, debtor information, known bank accounts, business names, addresses, prior collection efforts, and any signs of asset transfers.
- For urgent matters: upcoming deadlines, termination dates, signing deadlines, court dates, or recent asset movements.
Please do not send privileged or highly confidential details through the contact form. The first message should give enough information to understand the general issue, not every private fact.
Common Starting Points
If you are still deciding whether to contact the office, these pages may help you identify the issue more precisely.
What This First Step Is Not
An inquiry is not a guarantee that I can accept the matter, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship by itself. I maintain a selective caseload so that accepted matters receive direct attention. That means I may decline matters that are outside my practice areas, outside the locations I serve, too small to pursue efficiently, too close to a deadline, or otherwise not a good fit.
When I do accept a matter, the representation is built around clear communication, realistic expectations, and direct attorney involvement.
Frequently Asked Questions About Contacting the Office
Does contacting your office create an attorney-client relationship?
No. Reaching out and describing your situation does not create an attorney-client relationship. That relationship begins only after we both agree to representation in writing, following the initial review.
Is the initial conversation confidential?
Your first message should stay general. Avoid sending privileged or highly sensitive details through the contact form itself. Once we speak further and representation is established, more detailed information can be shared appropriately.
Is there a fee for the initial conversation?
Fee arrangements depend on the type of matter and are discussed directly during our initial conversation, before any commitment is made. You will understand the fee structure before deciding whether to proceed.
How quickly will I hear back after I reach out?
I review inquiries personally, and I try to respond promptly. Matters involving an approaching deadline, an imminent termination, or urgent asset movement are prioritized, so please flag any time sensitive facts when you first reach out.
What happens if my matter is not a good fit for your practice?
I maintain a selective caseload, so not every matter can be accepted. If your issue falls outside employment law or judgment enforcement, outside New York, or otherwise is not a good fit, I will tell you directly and promptly so you do not lose valuable time.
Do I need to gather documents before reaching out?
No. A short, accurate summary of your situation is enough to begin. If you have documents such as paystubs, a severance agreement, or a judgment, having them available is helpful once we speak further, but you do not need them to make initial contact.