Frequently asked questions

Meridian strives to be the most client-centric firm in Tennessee. Open and clear communication, transparent billing practices, and managing client expectations are key elements in fostering a positive, client-lawyer relationship. For these reasons, Meridian works hard to provide regular updates, set realistic expectations, and ensure that our clients feel heard and valued.

“A lawyer’s time and advice are his stock in trade.” – Abraham Lincoln

While many firms, often personal injury firms, promise “free consultations,” most of our clients’ matters are more complex than determining whether someone violated the Rules of the Road. So the answer to this question depends on the nature of the legal matter.

• For a personal injury matter, Meridian generally is happy to provide a free consultation to determine whether a potential client appears to have a viable claim and whether we will accept their case.

• For estate planning and probate matters, Meridian generally charges a modest consultation fee. That is because our attorneys have to obtain and review an estate planning questionnaire, and often other information, before the consultation, and they often recommend a specific estate plan based on their review of the information. Since legal work is required and substantive advice is being provided, we charge for our time.

• For most other matters, Meridian’s attorneys can speak with you briefly without charge to discuss your legal needs to ensure that it is something we can help you with. While we may make a cursory review of documents to obtain more information about your matter to determine if we can accept your case, we cannot review legal documents, provide legal opinions, or tell you whether you have a claim until we are formally retained and have had an opportunity to determine the facts and research the applicable law.

When a potential client contacts Meridian, we obtain additional information about their legal needs to determine if it is something with which we can assist them. Our intake specialists and paralegals are trained to obtain specific information based on the nature of the legal issue. That information is conveyed promptly to one or more of Meridian’s attorneys. If they determine that the matter is something with which we may be able to assist, they will contact the potential client to obtain more information about the matter and to provide our rates and required retainer. If they determine that it is something with which we cannot assist due to the type of matter, our current caseload, or because it would not be cost-effective to do so, we strive to promptly refer them to another firm or referral service that may be able to assist them. In short, our goal is to determine as quickly as possible if we can assist them, and if not, to get them into the hands of someone who can.

We hate to give a lawyerly response like, “it depends,” but that is the honest answer. Every case is different, so it depends on the type of case, the law and facts, and the actions of the judge and opposing party. Meridian strives to resolve all matters as quickly as possible and to obtain the best possible outcome for its clients, but there are many factors beyond our control. Statistics indicate that nearly 95% of all civil matters settle before trial, but we prepare as if our cases will be tried since doing so typically results in better outcomes for our clients.

Meridian determines this on a case-by-case basis. We are very selective about the cases we accept on a contingency basis. Most of our fees are charged by the hour, as a flat fee, or occasionally as a blend of hourly and contingency rates. If you are looking for an attorney to handle your matter on a contingency basis, let us know that up front, and if we are not able to accommodate you, we will be happy to refer you to one or more attorneys who may be able to do so.

Yes. Meridian is not formally retained to represent you until we have confirmed that we do not have any conflicts that would prevent us from representing you and you have signed and returned our representation agreement, and, for non-contingency cases, paid the requested retainer or flat fee. Regardless, the information you provide to our team, including our intake specialists and paralegals, is kept confidential. We have an ethical obligation not to disclose that information to others even if you ultimately do not retain Meridian to represent you. Again, however, sending us information, including unsolicited information, does not form an attorney-client relationship or preclude us from representing an adverse party.

When you contact Meridian, our goal is to have someone follow up with you as soon as possible. To avoid playing a lot of phone tag, often we find that it is more efficient to contact potential clients by email and text messages to schedule a time to talk. We also use email and texts to send firm agreements and correspondence, so it speeds up the intake process if we have your basic contact information, including email and your cell phone number, in our system.

Meridian represents hundreds of individuals and businesses across the state. We need to make sure that we do not have any conflicts that would prevent us from representing you. As such, we need to know the names of all potentially adverse parties, including your employer if you are calling about an employment-related issue.

Meridian’s intake specialists and paralegals typically handle initial calls from prospective clients. Once they have obtained the basic details of your matter and your relevant contact information, one of our attorneys will review it to determine if we may be a good fit. If so, they will reach out to schedule an initial consultation. If not, we will refer you to other attorneys or referral services who may be able to assist you with your matter. Allowing our intake specialists and paralegals to handle initial communications with prospective clients allows our attorneys to focus more time on handling our clients’ needs. Our first obligation is always to serve the needs of our existing clients, which is exactly what you would expect if you become one.

No, one or more Meridian team members may discuss your case with you or provide a brief consultation so both sides can determine whether it is a good fit. However, Meridian has not been retained and its attorneys are not representing you until we have:

• confirmed that we do not have any conflicts that would preclude us from representing you,

• you have signed and returned our representation agreement, and,

• for non-contingency cases, paid the requested retainer or fee.

Sending us information, including unsolicited information, does not form an attorney-client relationship.

Not necessarily. We understand that your legal matter is very important to you, so we want to make sure you can get the help you need in a timely manner, whether that’s from Meridian or another firm.

Although we provide a broad range of legal services, we are not the right fit for every matter. If it appears that another firm would better be able to serve you due to their specific practice focus, we may refer you to them. Likewise, if your matter is time-sensitive and we determine that we cannot provide you with the responsiveness you need due to our existing caseload, we may refer you to another firm.

We try to select referral sources who we know and trust, and whom we believe practice in the area with which you need assistance, but it is always your responsibility to interview those attorneys to determine the best fit for your individual legal needs.

In those situations where we make an initial determination that you may not have a case that we would be willing to pursue on your behalf, we still strongly encourage you to obtain a second and third opinion. Another firm may feel differently based on their review of your matter and their existing experience and caseload.

Meridian provides many payment options for the convenience of its clients. However, it prefers that payments be made by eCheck/ACH rather than credit card when possible. Meridian receives the funds sooner when payments are made by eCheck/ACH, and the fees charged to Meridian by its merchant service are substantially lower for eCheck/ACH payments. Unlike some firms, Meridian does not charge these amounts back to its clients, so reducing its merchant fees allows Meridian to continue providing legal services to its clients at reasonable rates.