Hire local counsel.
TLT Legal Services offers traditional local counsel services. I am licensed in DC, Maryland, and Virginia as well as all federal District Courts (District of the District of Columbia, District of Maryland, Eastern District of Virginia, and Western District of Virginia). Get in touch with Tara L. Tighe, Esq. today.
Local Counsel in VA, MD & DC.
In a traditional local counsel relationship you will partner with TLT Legal Services for a local attorney to serve as a sponsor for you to appear pro hac vice or for special admission You will be guided on local law and procedure while still having control and discretion over how to proceed while ensuring that your plan of action is best and appropriate for that court.
Instead of handing off your client or case to another attorney, when you hire local counsel you can remain integrally involved. Fee arrangements will depend on the scope of work and level of involvement you desire. If you want a smaller role, then referring the case to TLT Legal Services is another option.
In Virginia, this can be especially beneficial. Every county’s state court seems to have its own local rules and way of doing things. Fairfax County even has its own binders for local practicing. When you partner or hire co-counsel in Virginia you should be sure they are familiar with the forum county’s rules, requirements, and regulations (and has the proper colored paper!).
Local counsel for federal court
Federal court can be intimidating if you haven’t practiced much there. Timelines come quickly, especially in the Rocket Docket Eastern District of Virginia. Having an experienced local counsel will help you keep track of deadlines and offer an extra brain and set of hands to ensure you’re meeting those deadlines.
Counsel for Limited Representations
When settlements require court approvals, you may need local counsel to appear in court on the client’s behalf for the settlement approval hearing. In Virginia, this is very common for approval of compromise settlements, particularly infant settlement approvals and wrongful death approvals. TLT Legal Services knows the need for this in Northern Virginia when a DC/Maryland attorney needs a Virginia attorney to attend the compromise settlement approval. You can partner or hire an appearance attorney so you maintain your relationship with the client and don’t lose out on the fee you worked so hard for.
TLT Legal Services understands that needing local counsel shouldn’t cut into your fee for all of the work that you’ve done through a case. TLT Legal Services can serve as counsel for limited representations at a flat fee which reduces the risk to you for getting another attorney involved for the settlement to be approved.
Co-counsel agreements
Co-Counsel Agreements are ideal if you want to stay involved but want TLT Legal Services to also have a high level of involvement as litigation and trial counsel. Partnering with or hiring co-counsel is a great option if you’ve been handling a case and want to continue to stay involved but also need someone with experience and expertise to bolster your trial team or guide you through local procedures.
We offer the same services for co-counsel as we do for local counsel. The only difference is your ongoing level of involvement and division of work and fees.
As lawyers we often feel like we can’t ask for help or don’t want to ask for help. We need to keep up the appearance that we can do it all. Sometimes a case is just outside of your skill set, you want to learn a new practice area, or simply can use a more robust litigation and trial tem. At other times you don’t want to involve more attorneys because it means less money for you. But you have an obligation to act in the best interest of the client, and by partnering with an experienced attorney you may make more money than if you hadn’t asked for help.
By having co-counsel on a case you can ensure that your client and the case are getting the best representation you can offer.
Client Services
Personal injury & civil litigation representation for accidents, slip & falls, and more.
Attorney Services
Local counsel, parental leave coverage, sick leave coverage, brief writing, and more contract services available.