| CRIMINAL &
MUNICIPAL COURT DEFENSE Thank you for contacting Kenneth Vercammen &
Associates, PC for representation in a Criminal or Municipal Court matter.
Representation/ What We will do for you. We will review and research
necessary statutes and caselaw, contact the prosecutor, prepare defenses
and determine mitigating factors. We agree to provide conscientious, competent
and diligent services on the charges you provided us at the initial consultation.
At all times we will seek to achieve solutions which are just and reasonable
for you. 1. Telephone consultation with client; 2. Office consultation
with client; 3. Offer sound legal advice to client, plus access to our
legal info website www.njlaws.com 4. Preparation of letter of representation
to Court; 5. Preparation of letter of representation to Prosecutor; 6.
Preparation of statement to provide legal services; 7. Copies of all correspondence
to Court and Prosecutor to client; 8. Opening of file and client may have
free client case folder, Municipal Court brochure, DMV points brochure,
and Website brochure; 9. Review of necessary statutes and case law; 10.
Follow up with Prosecutor for discovery if suspension or jail is likely;
11. Prepare defense and mitigating factors; 12. Miscellaneous correspondence,
preparation and drafting of pleadings and legal documents in contested
serious cases; 13. Review documents supplied by client and court; 14.
Travel to Court; 15. Negotiations with the Prosecutor and Representation
in Municipal Court. 16. Preparation of End of Case Letter and client questionnaire.
17. Free Brochures provided on other legal topics such as Worker's Comp,
Wills, Personal Injury 18. Free subscription to monthly e-mail newsletter.
Provide your email address. 19. Follow up telephone advice [If you call,
provide the specific questions with the message]. 20. Invitation to client
seminars and Community events via email. 21. Hold and maintain file for
seven years in storage as free client service. 22. Free Magnet, Pen, T-
shirt, soda/ beer mug, foam soda can holder and estate planning book.
Please ask Ken V or staff upon retaining the office. The legal work includes
research, correspondence, preparation and drafting of pleadings or other
legal documents, conferences in person and by telephone with you and with
others, dictating and reviewing letters, negotiations, and any other related
work or service to properly represent you in this matter. The Law Firm
will provide legal representation through an attorney who is licensed
to practice law in New Jersey.
2. Your Responsibility- Please read carefully and follow instructions
to help us help you
-After you have retained [paid] your attorney, call the court, plead
not guilty and give the court the name of your attorney. In traffic matters,
we highly recommend you contact DMV, now Motor Vehicle Commission, and
obtain a driver's license abstract. 888-486-3339 or 609-292-6500. This
will help you when we go to court. You must fully cooperate with the Law
Firm and provide all information relevant to the issues involved in this
matter. You must fill out the Interview Sheet accurately. If you do not
provide accurate information to the court and our law office, you may
expose yourself to a higher DMV surcharge assessment. You must also provide
details on what you told the police.
-You should call the Court or Law Office 24 hours before all hearings
and court appearances to confirm the case has not been adjourned.
3. Going to Court- You must bring all your original papers and entire
file of all documents and letters you have received from our office, the
Court, insurance companies and the DMV/ MVC connected to your case whenever
you come to the law office, to court, or other appearances where both
you and your attorney will be present. When you arrive, please check in.
Hearing times are often delayed. If by chance the attorney in my office
handling the hearing is not at the hearing room when you arrive, please
do not panic. We will soon arrive to handle the case. We often travel
from another court. Please remain in the courtroom/hearing room until
we arrive, if possible. Usually we will go to speak directly with the
Prosecutor or Court Clerk prior to going into the courtroom. In municipal
court/traffic cases, we recommend our clients not speak with the Prosecutor
but rather wait for your attorney to arrive. If you will have to pay court
costs or a fine, bring a checkbook or cash. Most towns and state agencies
still do not accept credit cards. Do not leave the court and go home until
instructed by Mr. Vercammen or a member of our staff. 4. You must notify
the Law Office and the court immediately if your address or phone numbers
change. 5. Under the NJ Rules of Professional Conduct and Court Rules,
we cannot send a letter of representation to the court until the Retainer
is paid in full. All fees and requirements under this written retainer
agreement and any other written documents must be complied with. You must
also pay all bills as required by this Agreement. If you do not comply
with these requirements, the Law Firm will not represent you. Failure
to comply with all requirements shall permit the law office to withdraw
its offer of representation. We always charge a fee of between $50 - $100
for bad checks.
6 Other Legal Services. We provide representation only on the charges/tickets/offenses
you provided to us at the initial consultation. The Law Firm does not
guarantee Kenneth Vercammen will be the trial attorney. You and the Law
Firm may make additional agreements to provide for legal services not
covered by the Agreement. Without such agreements, the Law Firm is not
required to do any additional work or any of the following: (a) Provide
any legal services after appearance at the trial court; (b) File any Motions
or Briefs not set forth on page 1 (c) Appeal any decisions of the trial
court or make additional appearances after appearing in Court; (d) provide
other legal services or advice not listed on page 1; or (e) Represent
you in any other court or Tribunal
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