Keeping You Informed

Introduction

If you have not instructed Baldwin Cartwright before, we hope this information on the firm’s policies and procedures will be of assistance to you. Our Principal will be pleased to talk with you and introduce you to the Lawyer who can best help you.

Our normal office hours are 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday. Meetings are generally held in our offices. We are however happy to arrange to meet with you outside of these hours or at a more convenient location should the need arise. You can access any of our Legal team on the one convenient number or leave a message for them on our answering machine should your call be outside of the normal hours.

Responsible Principal

To ensure that you enjoy the highest levels of service, the Principal of the Firm ensures supervision of all files through on going review and consultation with the relevant Lawyer handling your matter.

Confidentiality

We will not discuss your affairs with any other person or organization outside the firm without your express permission.

Quality of Service

Baldwin Cartwright Lawyers is one of the largest and most progressive locally owned law practices in the Gympie and surrounding regions. We strive to maintain the highest standards of practice and staff through recruitment, training and supervision.

Our Lawyers knowledge and expertise are supplemented by up to date technology, which allows them to access the information they need to deal with your matter quickly and efficiently.

Quality to us means total satisfaction – not only with our services but also with our fees and bills. If you are unhappy with a bill or have a query, please tell us. Simply contact the Lawyer responsible for your matter or Selena Cartwright.

How are Fees Calculated

Our bills are usually prepared by taking into account time spent on your file by our professional staff.

Professional staff have different hourly rates reflecting their experience and expertise. Details of these rates are available on request. An amount may be included in our fees to reflect the difficulty or complexity of a matter. This amount will be included in any quote or estimate we give you.

Further the majority of our files are costed independently by an external Cost Assessor. This is a charge that is borne by the firm in order to ensure transparency and independence in all costings. Our cost assessor is then available to discuss any concerns in relation to the assessment.

Costs Agreements

All clients have the right to negotiate a costs agreement at the commencement of a matter. In many cases we write to our clients on receiving instructions making disclosure of our costs and setting out the terms of a proposed costs agreement for your approval and signature. Costs agreements must be evidenced in writing and you may wish to seek independent advice on a costs agreement we propose to you.

Quotes and Estimates

Where reasonably practicable we will give you our estimate of the likely cost of acting on your behalf. However, many matters are complicated by issues which arise subsequently, the attitude of the other side or unforseen complexities. In such cases a range of likely costs will be provided but are always subject to change.

There are matters which we can give you a fixed quote such as some conveyancing and wills. Where a fixed quote cannot be given, you may wish that a budget be placed on the file or an appropriate cost milestone established. We will then work on your file until the budget or milestone is reached and report to you. Any budget or milestone will be based on an estimate of the likely costs involved having regard to the information about the matter available to us at the time.

If we retain a Barrister or other consultant on your behalf we will, if required, first obtain for you an estimate of that persons fees or the range into which those fees will fall.

Should you have any concerns, cost constraint or special requirement regarding billing arrangements, please discuss them with us at the earliest possible stage, as communicating these requirements to us allows us to assist you appropriately.

Moneys Spent on Your Behalf (Disbursements)

Separate from our professional fees are the disbursements which we pay or incur on your behalf. We will ask you in advance for large disbursements such as stamp duty, registration fees, barrister’s fees, court fees, and conveyancing enquiry fees.

We will also bill you for expenses incurred on your file such as photocopying, telephone calls, facsimile transmissions, postage, delivery charges, and search fees.

The Form of Bills

Our bills unless otherwise negotiated will be in the form of a lump sum bill with an explanation of the work to which the bill refers. You may request an itemized bill within 30 days of receipt of a lump sum bill if you require additional detail.

All queries must be raised prior to the due date for payment of the bill.

You will be responsible for payment of our charges in full notwithstanding in litigious matters, if you are successful, an Order may be made against another party to contribute, or that in other matters there may be contractual obligations on another party to pay or contribute to costs.

Note: If you are unsuccessful in a litigious matter an Order may be made against you to contribute to another party’s costs.

Payment Terms

Our accounts to both disbursements and professional fees, unless otherwise indicated are final for the work described and are due for payment within 14 days of the date of the bill. If accounts are not paid we may cease work or terminate our services.

GST

If GST is payable by us on any supply made to you by us you will pay us an additional amount equal to the GST – exclusive consideration payable for the supply multiplied by the prevailing GST rate. Any bill of costs we provide to you will be a tax invoice for GST purposes.

Trust Account

At the commencement of the matter or thereafter from time to time, we may ask you to deposit money into our trust account to cover our anticipated fees and disbursements. These moneys are retained and applied to our accounts only when they issue to you. If we receive money on your behalf this will also be paid into the trust account. We will then provide you with a statement detailing all your transactions through our trust account.

Litigious Matters

In certain cases legal aid may be available to individuals. If this has not been discussed with you and you are interested in applying, you may obtain further information from us.

If in your case you are claiming payment of an amount of money from another party and settlement offers are made you are normally entitled to a written statement from us of the minimum net amount you will receive, taking into account legal costs. Because of the way settlement negotiations often proceed there may not be time to give you a written statement. If the question of settlement arises, please ask the Lawyer acting for you to provide you with an up-to-date estimate of legal costs to enable you to assess the net amount you will receive. Obviously we will not commit you to a settlement unless we receive clear instructions from you.

Note: The tax treatment of any amounts awarded to you or payable by you should be discussed with us during the course of the action.

Progress Reports

It is policy at Baldwin Cartwright to provide you with, and you also have the right to expect, progress reports on matters we are handling for you.

Client Satisfaction

Quality relates to total client satisfaction with the complete Baldwin Cartwright Lawyers service. If you have any queries or are unhappy with any aspect of our service, please contact the Lawyer handling the matter or one of the firm’s partners.

Our quality management system will ensure that any enquiry is dealt with quickly, effectively and most importantly, satisfactorily from your point of view.

Baldwin Cartwright Lawyers provide the highest quality legal services through the delivery of expert, effective and timely legal solutions and advice.

The Firm maintains the highest integrity and is focused on building strong client relationships through a culture of understanding and responsiveness in assessing the needs of its clients to maximise fair and positive outcomes.

Baldwin Cartwright Lawyers distinguished reputation is enhanced by its commitment to excellence, innovation and success in every aspect of its business by:

• providing the most knowledgeable, effective and practical legal solutions and advice
  
  
• providing the most innovative and friendly customer oriented service
  
  
• delivering the highest level of up to date knowledge, experience, expertise and integrity
  
  
• delivering appropriate and timely response to all matters
  
  
• applying a relentless approach to all matters
  
  
• maintaining a positive attitude and "can do" mentality
  
  
• ensuring ongoing market research to continually understand our customers and their needs
  
  
• valuing our staff and their commitment to the organization
  
  
• valuing our customers and their importance to the organization
  
  
• supplying value added services to our customers appropriate to their needs
  
  
• maintaining a proactive approach in the development of new business and referrals

What We Stand For

Baldwin Cartwright Lawyers services are defined and represented by the following features and benefits.

Features

• prompt efficient service
• clear and effective communication with clients
• knowledge, experience and expertise in all areas of Law practised in
• strong client care programs and follow up strategies
• a strong presence in the local area
• a reputation as an important contributor to the local business community

Benefits

• advice and solutions delivered promptly, matters resolved in timely manner
• a clear understanding of the clients rights and obligations at all times
• fair, practical and timely outcomes with confidence
• development and maintenance of a trusting relationship, always there for the client
• normal, personable and approachable staff who are part of the community
• esteemed position as part of the infrastructure of the community