Ninety minutes of legal work.
Thirty in conversation. Sixty on the page. A scoped engagement, paid in advance, that produces a written analysis of your matter — signed and delivered, regardless of whether we work together again.
Most firms charge for the first conversation and do not tell you what you are paying for. We do.
What $900 buys, line by line.
A fee schedule, not a pricing card — the same line-item form we use in every engagement letter the firm writes.
First Conversation — scope of work
| Component | Description | Time | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 · Call | Conversation with Christopher Moye Video or phone. Scoping the matter, fact-finding, plain questions. No marketing, no script. | 30 min | $600 / hr | $300.00 |
| 02 · Memo | Written analysis on firm letterhead Facts as presented, applicable law, recommended next steps, and an explicit note on what was not addressed. Signed. | 60 min | $600 / hr | $600.00 |
Total payable — billed at the reduced First Conversation rate Our standard hourly rate is $800. The First Conversation is billed at $600 — the firm's introductory rate — for the full ninety minutes. | 90 min | $600 / hr | $900 | |
If we accept the engagement within 90 days, the full $900 is credited against the retainer. No proration. No expiry conditions beyond the 90-day window.
The signed memo arrives within 5 business days of the call. If we miss it — which would be exceptional — the fee is refunded in full.
Four commitments, in writing.
Direct with Christopher.
No screener, no associate. Video or phone, on a scheduled appointment, after a written intake is reviewed.
A signed memo.
On firm letterhead. Facts. Analysis. Next steps. An explicit note on what was not addressed. The deliverable, not a summary.
Five business days.
From the call. Named, in the engagement letter. Missed delivery refunds the fee in full — a circumstance we treat as exceptional.
Toward engagement.
The full fee is credited against any retainer if we proceed within 90 days. Not partial. Not conditional on the size of the engagement.
Three steps. Each in writing.
A scoped engagement letter precedes the call. The memo follows. Nothing implied, nothing assumed.
You send a shape of the matter.
A short written intake describing the matter. If we accept, we send a one-page engagement letter scoped to the First Conversation only — signed by both sides, no further representation implied.
Thirty minutes with Christopher.
By appointment. Video or phone. We listen first, ask plain questions, and develop a working picture of the matter. The fee is paid before the call is held.
Written analysis, signed.
Sixty minutes of considered drafting — not a transcript. Facts as presented, applicable law, recommended next steps, and an explicit scope note. Delivered by email within five business days.
The memo is the product.
The call exists to inform the memo. The memo — not the conversation — is what you take with you. It is written in the firm's editorial voice, signed on letterhead, and yours to keep regardless of whether we work together again.
It is also a sample of our work product, in your matter, before retention. We do it this way because it is the cleanest way we know to begin.
- Form
- On firm letterhead. Signed. Dated.
- Structure
- Facts · Analysis · Next steps · Scope.
- Length
- Typically 3–5 pages. As long as needed.
- Delivery
- PDF by email. Paper on request.
An honest screen, on both sides.
- You have a specific matter and want a considered second opinion before retaining counsel.
- You value written analysis over a sales conversation.
- You are evaluating whether this firm is the right fit, and would like a sample of work product before deciding.
- You are willing to pay for a lawyer's time and attention — and to receive a deliverable for it.
- You are looking for a free consultation. We do not offer one.
- You need an emergency response within hours. Call the firm directly.
- You are comparison-shopping on price alone. There are firms better suited to that conversation, and we will point you to them.
- You are seeking general legal information rather than counsel on a specific matter.
Three refusals, by design.
— Not a free consultation
The first conversation is paid because it is work. A lawyer's time, and a written deliverable, have a price — we name it instead of hiding it inside a retainer.
— Not a sales call
We do not run a marketing script. The 30 minutes are spent understanding the matter. If the firm is not the right fit, the memo will say so — and recommend where to look instead.
— Not a screening call
Screening happens in writing, before the call. The conversation itself is substantive legal work, billed at the reduced rate, and produces a deliverable you keep.
Send the shape of the matter.
A short written intake. Christopher reads inquiries himself. If the firm is the right fit, you will hear back within one business day with a one-page engagement letter and a scheduling window.