WHY HIRE THE LAW OFFICES OF JAMES C. EGAN

The Law Offices of James C. Egan

The Law Offices of James C. Egan brings over 40 years of combined legal experience through four full time attorneys. James C. Egan has practiced almost 10 years; he is joined by attorneys Joshua S. Schaer, Karl J. Verzani and James J. White. Each has conducted jury trials individually and is familiar with current legal issues. Each attorney has the responsibility for every case.

1. Who are the attorneys at the Law Office of James C. Egan?
2. Can I speak with the attorneys for FREE about my case?
3. What should I look for in an attorney?
4. How is the Law Office of James C. Egan your best local choice for legal defense?
5. Why would I hire a firm to defend me instead of a single attorney?
6. What kinds of questions should I ask an attorney whom I might want to hire?
7. How much will it cost me? Can I afford your law team's services?

Who are the attorneys at the Law Office of James C. Egan?

Currently, there are four full time attorneys, including James C. Egan, Joshua S. Schaer, Karl J. Verzani and James J. White.. Each is a trial attorney with defense experience on issues related to DUI's and other criminal traffic and alcohol-related charges. Mr. Egan has additional experience in areas including plaintiff's and defense personal injury law, civil rights cases, Labor and Industries hearings, Department of Licensing Appellate Issues, and felony charges.

Can I speak with the attorneys for FREE about my case?

Absolutely! The firm will give you a free hour-long consultation if you are seeking the advice and representation of a private attorney. Simply mention our website promise to give you a free consultation, and you will be able to talk with one of the experienced attorneys at our firm for up to an hour about your case, at no cost to you. This is not only free, it is also confidential, even if you decide not to hire us. We will give you real examples about similar matters that we may have handled, the current status of laws including DUI laws, and can tell you what we would seek to obtain in your case. Dismissals of charges are always our goal. We will tell you about the process and what you can expect from our representation.

What should I look for in an attorney?

Experience makes a difference. Just as you should not hire a young, inexperienced doctor to perform a delicate surgery, so would you not choose a very young or inexperienced attorney to represent you on a serious criminal charge such as a DUI. It is important to inquire of the attorney how long they have practiced law. Our attorneys each have actual and substantial defense trial experience, and in most cases several years. James C. Egan has practiced almost 10 years. We know the players, the courts, the law and the best defenses to use in any case. Put our experience to work for you!

Your best advice for an attorney is to find one or a team which helps you feel comfortable and in whose abilities you can have confidence. Any attorney can say, "We'll take care of you," when they don't know how to approach your case and what to look for. What to listen for are specific legal analyses for your particular issue. Is the attorney asking questions and really listening to you? Is the attorney advising you about your situation? For example, what will constitute "probable cause" to stop you or make an arrest? What if the officer led you to believe that you were required to speak with him or her when contacted? What legal cases have been argued that are like yours, and what are the results that were obtained?

Call 206-749-0333 to answer these questions and find out what our firm and legal team can do for you.

How is the Law Office of James C. Egan your best local choice for legal defense?

There are many reasons we believe we are your best choice for criminal defense in the Seattle/Tacoma/Everett area.

First, we have experience in all the area courts. This is important because we tend to know the prosecutors and the typical policies and procedures that they will follow under different circumstances. This means we don't need to reinvent the wheel every time we start a new case with your particular prosecutor. Each is different, and for the benefit of our clients we aim to know what is persuasive to them! Not all firms have broad experience with many different courts, from Puyallup to Clyde Hill, Tacoma to Everett and all places in between.

Second, we have access to electronic data related to most cases. We likely have access to your docket, case history and other court activity. We can typically look up factors the prosecutor will want to know, such as whether you have been charged with crimes or received tickets before. Although this may seem irrelevant, any good attorney will tell you a prosecutor is more aggressive when a defendant has prior history. A good attorney should be aware of backgrounds so as to best advise you and navigate potential consequences. We are proud to have this limited access to prosecutors' and courts' notes and it helps in every single one of our cases. To find out what we can discover, simply call us.

Third, we have experience at all levels. Each attorney within our "law team" has done multiple defense jury trials. James C. Egan personally has represented over 1,000 clients in public and private defense work, and has represented 30 people in jury trials. Around ten of those cases resulted in complete acquittals for clients, including the last two jury trials, and even felony cocaine dealing charges.

In many cases we have made prosecutors acutely aware that we do not give up on clients, and hence we will be offered some very favorable dispositions to clients in the future.

Although your case will probably not go to jury trial, you don't want an attorney that ultimately is afraid of trial or has little experience with trials. That would make you pay for that attorney's learning curve, both in your money and risk. At our firm, you will actually find very competent attorneys who handle arraignments, pretrial hearings, motions hearings, examinations and cross-examinations, and complete felony and misdemeanor bench and jury trials. We make ourselves familiar with the laws and the prosecutors who can reduce charges, and we make cogent arguments to the court about dismissals and suppressions. In short, we are an aggressive, advocating team.

Why would I hire a firm to defend me instead of a single attorney?

We are a legal team. Three heads are better than one. Any attorney can review your file and give an isolated opinion, but when you have four experienced attorneys who each comb through and offer independent legal analyses, you can be more assured that all germane issues are identified. Plus, whereas a single attorney might have conflicts with court schedules, the Law Office of James C. Egan rarely needs to hire outside counsel for "coverage" of a hearing in which there might be a "conflict" in another court.

Plus, if you have an entire law firm behind your case, including paralegals and multiple attorneys, you can be assured the State or City Prosecutors know that you have an entire team in your camp. You need to fend off the team of resources the prosecutor has, such as cops, investigators and the State's own paralegals.

What kinds of questions should I ask an attorney whom I might want to hire?

Here are some sample questions that will help you determine whether someone is competent to handle your case:

• What year were you admitted to practice law?
  (This information can also be obtained at the State bar website by typing in the attorney's name: http://pro.wsba.org/)
• When did you first start practicing criminal defense and with what firm?
• How many jury trials have you defended?
• What were the results?
• What kind of motions have you argued before a judge that would apply to my situation?
• What kind of results have you achieved?
• What is your legal analysis of my case?
• What kind of payment arrangement can you give me?

If you have any reason to doubt what an attorney is telling you, it is advisable to move on and not be pressured into working with an attorney who does not demonstrate expert knowledge of the subject. Ultimately, you will be the one to bear the consequences of choosing the wrong counsel, if you do. Choose an established firm which leaves you firmly convinced of your options.

How much will it cost me? Can I afford your law team's services?

Legal fees can sometimes be daunting for someone who has not planned for them. If you call around you will probably find that our firm has very competitive rates. For example, whereas many DUI's on a first offense cost $5000 or more in legal fees, our rates tend to be 20% lower, or $4000 and sometimes less. Other factors can bring costs down, such as readily identifiable legal issues or your approach to your defense.

If you have a job, you likely can afford us because we have competitive rates and will enter payment plans with clients. For example, we sometimes take as little as $1000 up front to get into a case. The balance can be paid over a series of months, and does not need to be paid all up front. This makes our payment arrangements much easier than an upfront fee. Also, it does not affect the quality of the firm's representation of you; we treat every client with care, concern and all the attention to the legal issues that you deserve. We will treat you as we ourselves would want to be treated in your shoes: respectfully and yet legally aggressive with the charges against you.