A Message From Bill About His Legal Philosophy

Life is short and money doesn’t grow on trees.  My legal philosophy is to provide cost-effective representation and candid advice to my clients.  I help my clients set realistic expectations about their legal disputes, and find the most efficient path to meet or exceed those expectations.

Candid Advice, Pragmatic Solutions

A lot of attorneys will tell you what you want to hear, ask for a big retainer, and then when the money runs out, tell you what you needed to hear.  I skip the part where you get fleeced, and tell you what you need to hear from the start.  If you have a bad case, I’ll tell you.  If you have a great case, I’ll tell you.  If I can think of a way that you can solve your own problem without even involving me, I’ll tell you that, too.  I will sleep soundly if you can solve your case without ever even hiring me.  I never want to leave a client feeling like they didn’t need me, or shouldn’t have hired me, or that I’m the only “winner” in their dispute.

Cost-Effective Representation

I remember paying legal bills before I became a lawyer, what a nightmare.  My clients work for a living, and they have better things to spend their money on than a lawyer that runs up their bill with busywork.  I do my best to make sure my invoices are as light as possible.

• I provide a menu of options wherever possible, with projected costs and benefits and recommendations so that you can floor the gas or pump the brakes as your budget and tolerance for risk requires.
• No charge for routine status updates and check-ins.  I want you to keep me up to date, and I want you to answer my calls.  I do not want you to worry that just answering the phone or responding to a quick email is going to cost you as much as a dinner out.
• I put my clients to work on their own cases, to the greatest extent they are willing and able.  My clients proofread, organize and review documents, and interface with third-parties where appropriate.  If you’re not comfortable, I can do it, but if you are comfortable and available, you can help, and save some money.

How I Resolve Cases

Civil litigation almost always resolves before trial.  Doubly so for construction disputes.  The open question is “how far is the case going to get before it resolves?”  Some cases are litigated all the way to the eve of trial and settle on the courthouse steps; other cases resolve with a few well-crafted letters.  The one constant is that if the opposing attorneys hate each other, the case won’t settle quickly.  Some attorneys use rude and unprofessional behavior to make settling hard on purpose, so they can push cases farther than they ought to go out of sheer spite.  The only winners when attorneys behave badly are the attorneys themselves.  I strive to look past that sort of gamesmanship, and keep my focus on what’s important for my client’s case.

Call Now For A Consultation

Contact The Law Office of William Stanger today at 408-883-8466 to schedule your consultation. I am standing by to offer honest legal counsel and fast resolutions so my clients can get back to their lives.