Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are your hours?

Our office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday. However, we have people available to answer phone calls to our office 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

How do I get in touch with you after hours, or in an emergency?

If our office is closed when you call, your phone call will still be answered. The person who takes your call will send an electronic message to one of the lawyers, who will respond to your call as soon as possible. If your call comes in after midnight, the attorney will generally receive the message by 7:00 a.m. the following day. If the matter is an emergency, be sure to tell the receptionist this, and leave as much detail as possible

You can also send an e-mail to either of the attorneys through this website. E-mails will always be answered “same day,” and is often a great way to stay in touch with your lawyer.

How do I get to your office?

You can use the Google Map direction finder in the block on the left or click on this address: 1135 LaSalle St, Jacksonville, FL 32207 to get a Google Map of our location.

What are your fees and methods of payment?

In criminal cases, fees will vary depending upon the nature and complexity of the case. Your lawyer will generally quote you a series of “fixed” or set fees to apply at various stages of your case. These fixed fees are generally preferred by the client over an hourly rate, as they give more certainty to the client as to the total amount of fees involved in the case. Your attorney will fully discuss a fee quote with you during the initial consultation. Our firm does not charge fees for initial consultations on criminal cases.

In civil cases, your lawyer will generally quote you an “hourly rate,” where you will be billed based upon the number of hours incurred by the attorney.

We will discuss payment plans with you, and will work to devise a plan that fits within your budget.

Fees can be paid via cash; check; or by credit card.

Is there free parking available at your office?

Yes. Back in 1998, we purchased a building in historic San Marco. One of the things that concerned us the most was adequate and close parking for our clients. Our firm has significant on-property parking available, as well as street side parking within feet of our building. There are no parking meters, and no need to cross busy streets. Further, we have handicap access available into our building.

In what Counties and Courts do you practice?

We practice in most of northeast Florida, including Duval, Clay, Nassau, St. John’s, Baker and Putnam Counties. Our criminal practice is limited to State Courts. Don Lester handles civil cases in both State and Federal Courts.

Are you able to access and check records at the Clerk’s office?

Yes!! The Duval County Clerk’s office provides approved attorneys with special access to most criminal and civil records, including police reports, traffic citations, and the history of cases in the Court system. When you call regarding a criminal case, your attorney will likely be able to review the arrest report with you immediately! Further, we are able to run criminal history checks and motor vehicle driving records within minutes.

If we can’t reach you by phone, is your staff available to assist me?

Nothing can be more frustrating to a client than not being able to get a question answered promptly from his/her attorney. Our law firm takes great pride in being available and accessible to our clients. If the attorney you are looking for is not available, our staff will be there to help you. In most cases, the assistant should be able to help – but if not, our office will reach the attorney and get back to you as soon as possible. We realize the importance of being available to our clients.

Can you guarantee me a good result in my case?

No attorney can “guarantee” a result, and if any attorney does so, they are not being straight with you. Our firm can guarantee you that we will provide the best representation possible for you; that we will keep you updated about your case; that we will be available to answer your questions; and that we will do all we can to achieve the best result possible, given the facts of your case.

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