Do I need a lawyer?

If you are asking yourself this question, the answer is most likely, yes. Lawyers can assist in a variety of different matters, from advice on starting your own business to complicated corporate litigation; from defending you against a speeding ticket, to proving your innocent in the face of felony charges; or, from a slip and fall to a wrongful death claim. Generally speaking, consulting with a lawyer is worth the investment, both monetarily, and for your piece of mind.

What type of lawyer do I need?

Though the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania doesn’t license attorneys in any particular specialties, some attorneys have greater experience and tend to specialize in particular areas of law.

We generally identify ourselves as a litigation firm. A litigation firm has attorneys who try cases in court. Although you think the matter can be resolved without litigation (i.e. without a “court fight” which many cases do), such as by an insurance company settlement, or a guilty plea in a criminal case, unless you have an attorney who is capable of handling your case if it does go to court, your likely to come up short. All parties typically want to avoid trials when they can, however, the threat of taking them before a jury of your peers won’t be taken seriously unless your adversaries are convinced that your attorney knows his way around the courtroom, and can win. Even a simple business agreement should be a drafted by an attorney with litigation experience because he/she knows what clauses or language to utilize based upon his having had to litigate someone else’s drafting deficiencies in court.

The Karoly Law Firm, LLC is a well-respected litigating law firm that is ready to help you avoid problems when they can be avoided, and resolve problems if a dispute occurs.

How do I find the right lawyer for me?

For only the last few decades, lawyers in Pennsylvania have been able to advertise and the Karoly Law Firm, LLC does a bit of that. But, lawyers are a lot like physicians in that people don’t choose them based upon fancy ads or television commercials. A physician’s advertising how “good” his surgeries are is not likely to attract many patients. Good lawyers, like good doctors, usually are referred by family, friends, neighbors or co-workers who utilized their legal representation. Lawyers are most often judged by the results they’ve received, and you’ll also find that good “desk-side” manner is every bit as important when it comes to lawyers as good “bed-side” manner is when it comes to doctors.

At the Karoly Law Firm, LLC, most of our clients come from referrals, by former clients, as well as from other attorneys and law firms that respect our competency and successful outcomes. And, we take pride in developing a personal relationship with our clients who often introduce us to others as their “friends” as well as their attorneys. So, ask around, you are sure to find the Karoly Law Firm, LLC is on the “short-list” of recommended attorneys. Or, find out for yourself by making a no obligation appointment with us to decide for yourself if we are the right firm for you. And, if for any reason we can’t help you, we would be happy to refer you to other counsel who can.

I’m new to the legal process, can you explain to me what it’s like for clients dealing with your firm?

Just like with any jury, it’s our responsibility to communicate complex legal matters through the prism of our audience, experience and knowledge. Whether you’ve been involved with the legal system numerous times in the past, never before, or somewhere in between, our staff of professionals will educate you about the process, provide you with updates regarding your case and be in constant contact with you regarding any questions or concerns you may have.

What percentage of your caseload is dedicated to handling my type of legal problem?

We offer a wide array of expertise in diverse fields of law. Our firm can be split into two types of litigants, civil and criminal, both being equally represented.

As you dive deeper into the types of civil cases we handle, generally speaking we do 50% auto accidents/personal injury/wrongful death, 25% civil rights and 25% commercial/business litigation.

The criminal side of the practice deals with both state and federal charges, seeing 65% felony, 25% misdemeanor, and 10% summary charges, ranging from homicide to speeding tickets.

How are your fees structured?

There are three (3) distinct ways we bill our clients (1) flat fee, (2) hourly rate, or (3) contingency fee.

A flat fee is exactly what it says; a onetime fee for a specific set of service to be rendered. We typically use this type of billing in criminal cases.

An hourly rate fee structure typically entails an agreed upon hourly rate for each attorney and staff’s services, which are then billed to you on a 30, 60 or 90 day cycle, depending upon the frequency of the representation. This type of fee structure is usually used when we represent individuals in contract disputes or companies in business disputes.

Finally, we offer contingency fee agreement (or often referred to as “no recovery; no fee” arrangements). Contingency fee agreements are typically reserved for car accidents, personal injuries and wrongful death cases. With this type of agreement, we only receive compensation for the services we render if you recover.

Karoly Law Firm offers each client a fee structure they are comfortable with and can afford.

Do you have written fee agreements or representation agreements?

Client communication is a cornerstone of our representation, both from a financial prospective as well as an expectation consideration. We provide written fee agreements for each type of representation we will engage in on behalf of a client. It is detailed and addresses most if not all potential questions you may have. If you do engage our services, don’t be shy about asking our professionals to explain any aspect of the agreement you may not clearly understand. But, you can always rest assured, should you entrust us with your representation, we will fight valiantly on your behalf for the best outcome we can secure.

How do you measure success?

Client satisfaction. We engage in a service industry, and without clients continuing to seek our advice and skill we wouldn’t have achieved the community recognition we enjoy and guard. Each and every case we encounter is unique, and the results we have achieved for one client is not necessarily indicative of the results that you can expect, however, with the vast array of expertise and experience our professionals bring to your case, they will be able to provide you with their opinions and advice as to what a good outcome would be for your matter.

How will I be informed of any developments in my case?

We believe in personal interaction. Yes, we communicate via correspondence or email, but our most effective and chosen form of communication is in office appointments.

We are a litigation firm which means we tend to be in the courthouse during normal business hours, which sometimes makes us less than immediately accessible. We make great efforts to contact our clients and keep them updated as often as is reasonable, and take time after normal business hours or weekends to ensure our client obligations are met. And, we always try to return client inquiries within 24 to 48 hours.

Why should I choose Karoly Law Firm for my legal needs?

The Karoly Law Firm, LLC can brag about its reputation, its talent and its wide ranging expertise. But, what clients really want to hear is the answer to a single question: “Can you help me?” and the answer is typically . . . Yes!