The American Bar Association and the State of California Rules of Professional Conduct requires that we provide certain disclaimers relating to our services:
NO LEGAL ADVICE WITHOUT CONSULTATION: No legal advice is being provided through this website. Any newsletters, blogs, webpages or similar materials are for informational purposes only and provide only general legal information. Consult with a professional regarding application to your personal situation. Attorneys are not permitted to provide any guarantee or prediction of outcomes, which are dependent on a variety of factors specific to your situation.
NO PRIVACY/CONFIDENTIALITY: DO NOT send our attorneys any personal information via email or text without first obtaining authorization. All matters are first subject to a conflicts check and we require the names of all persons/entities involved prior to discussing details. If you provide personal or confidential information prior to obtaining a conflicts check clearance, we have no duty to keep that information private and undertake no duty to represent you.
REPRESENTATION REQUIRES A SIGNED AGREEMENT: Sending information to our attorneys or speaking to an attorney in a free consultation does not form a duty of representation. We are retained only after you sign an attorney-client agreement.
CALIFORNIA ONLY: Our attorneys are licensed only in California and all information provided by this website, by email, or by phone is only applicable to matters in the State of California. We do not provide any type of legal advice outside of the State of California.
LAWYER ADVERTISING: This website may be considered lawyer advertising. Hiring an attorney is an important decision that should not be based solely on the information provided on this website. Information on this website is for informational purposes only, is provided without warranty, and is not guaranteed to be up-to-date or complete. No information, client reviews, or testimonials provided on this websites or any links, including but not limited to Yelp, Google, and Avvo, are considered a guarantee of performance or prediction relating to any legal matter.
DESIGNATED ATTORNEY: Professional rules require us to designate an atttorney responsible for this website. Our designated attorney is Cathy Cowin (cathy.cowin@gmail.com).
NO SPECIALIZATION: Professional rules allow attorneys to state primary areas of practice but not specialties unless specifically licensed. Our firm does not hold any special licenses. We primarily practice in the areas listed on this website. We do not provide tax advice. Just like finding the right doctor means you may need a pediatrician, oncologist, or gastroenterologist, finding the right attorney means finding someone that routinely handles the type of matter you need.
NO PRO BONO OR CONTINGENCY CASES: We do not accept representation of clients pro bono (free) or on contingency. All cases are billed on an hourly basis. A retainer is generally required. Retainer funds are maintained in an attorney trust account until earned. If a matter is closed and funds remain in trust, a refund is issued. Matters may require additional retainer deposits.
We reserve the right to change these disclaimers at any time without notice.
