The Mission of Our Lawyers in Charleston

At the law firm of Futeral and Nelson, LLC, the mission of our lawyers is to serve the communities of Charleston, Mount Pleasant, and other areas in South Carolina by providing high quality legal services to individual clients and businesses in an efficient, timely, and professional manner that adheres to the highest standards of excellence and integrity, and to charge fees that are fair and appropriate for our clients.

Our attorneys in Charleston, South Carolina are committed to safeguarding our clients' legal rights in both state and federal court. Our lawyers represent clients in a many legal matters including family court, personal injury, worker's compensation, products liability, business disputes, medical and legal malpractice, wrongful death, and incorporations. We also represent defendants regarding state and federal crimes including misdemeanors and felonies.  

Futeral & Nelson, LLC received the highest rating (AV® Rating) given to a law firm from Martindale-Hubbell®. The Martindale Hubbell® Directory, first published in 1896, has a 140-year history of providing unbiased peer review ratings and information to the public about the ethical standards and professional ability of attorneys. Martindale-Hubbell® PEER REVIEW RATINGS™ are an objective indicator of high ethical standards and professional ability, generated from evaluations of lawyers by other members of the bar and the judiciary in the United States. An AV Rating shows that a firm has reached the height of professional excellence.

The key to our success as lawyers in Charleston depends upon our clients' satisfaction with our services. Our attorneys take a "customer-service" approach which includes:

• Returning Telephone Calls - The single most frequently registered complaint with many state bar associations across the country is the failure of attorneys to return their clients' telephone calls. Depending upon the urgency of the call, we try to return telephone calls as soon as possible.
  
  
• Advising Our Clients About Changes in the Law - As we learn of changes in South Carolina's laws, our attorneys try to keep our clients informed of these changes before our clients experience any problems.
  
  
• Communicating Regularly With Our Clients - We believe it is important to let our clients know what is happening with their case. So, we regularly send copies of letters, memos, and court documents to our clients to give them the status of their case and to educate our clients about the legal process.
  
  
• Treating Our Clients With Dignity and Respect - At the law firm of Futeral & Nelson, LLC, we believe that our clients should not feel they are a burden upon our attorneys. Our clients are our number one priority, so we treat them with the dignity and the respect that they deserve. With so many law firms to choose from, we deeply appreciate the opportunity to represent our clients' legal needs in South Carolina. 

Technology is essential to the practice of law in the 21st Century. At the law firm of Futeral & Nelson, LLC, our lawyers and paralegals have access to some of the latest advancements in software and equipment to assist them with case management, client communications, and courtroom presentation:

• Case Management - We use special legal software known as Amicus Attorney® to improve the efficiency of our law firm by organizing and integrating all of our essential client information into a single system. Using this program, our law firm manages the critical information in hundreds of client files, which includes: (1) complete contact information of all persons involved (client, witnesses, court staff, opposing lawyers, etc.), (2) calendars including events, to-do items, and deadline reminders, (3) all communications including emails, telephone messages, and telephone calls, and (4) all client documents including correspondence and legal briefs. Additionally, we have the capability of digitally organizing thousands upon thousands of case documents, including witness testimony, correspondence, and legal documents into a searchable database which puts the information literally at our fingertips. Utilizing software known as Casemap®, we are able to organize, interrelate, and analyze all case information, no matter how complex. 

• Client Communications - By combining high-speed internet access with email, instant messaging, software such as Adobe Acrobat® and Microsoft Office®, and secure access to our web server, our lawyers can communicate and work more efficiently with clients and meet the changing needs of a more technologically progressive practice of law in South Carolina. We also have access to online nationwide legal sources and research.

• Courtroom Presentation - Studies show that approximately 80% of the information retained by juries in South Carolina and elsewhere is visual. Thus, our lawyers use cutting-edge technology to organize and present exhibits, information, and high-impact multimedia presentations at trial. For example, TrialDirector® is state-of-the-art software which allows our attorneys to take the courtroom presentation of case exhibits to a new level by offering side-by-side exhibit comparison, on-screen annotations, multiple zoom capabilities, and synchronized video displays. Depending on the type of case, our attorneys may use digital photography, animation, or 3D scene recreations to create dramatic and effective case presentations
  

There are three basic fee structures for our legal services in addition to any costs such as filing fees. These types of fees depend upon the nature of legal work involved. In all cases, we work with our clients to come up with fee options and payment plans that fit within their budget including:  

• Contingency Fee -  A contingency fee is a fee based upon a percentage of the total recovery for the client. For example, in plaintiff's claims or personal injury cases, we typically charge a contingency fee of 33% to 40% of the total recovery . 

• Hourly Fee -  In some cases, we bill our clients by the hour for the legal services performed. An hourly fee is typically charged for consulting work, civil defense work, or family law cases. It is customary for the client to deposit a retainer with our firm from which these hours can be billed.

• Flat Fee -  Unlike a contingency fee or a hourly fee, a flat fee is a single amount charged to the client for the services performed. For example, our firm charges a flat fee for real estate closings and for most criminal matters such as DUI's and other offenses.

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For more information regarding how our lawyers can assist you with your legal needs, please browse our web site or contact us locally at (843) 284-5500, toll free at (877) 913-5500, or email info@charlestonlaw.net.