Hendricks Law

Hendricks Law · 1720 Louisiana Blvd NE, Suite 301, Albuquerque, NM 87110 · (505) 407-0066 These Terms and Conditions apply to every client engagement with Hendricks Law and are incorporated by reference into, and made a part of, the Engagement Summary Client signs for each matter. By signing the Engagement Summary, and, where presented electronically, by checking the box confirming agreement, Client agrees to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. 1. Scope of Representation This engagement is limited to the matter(s) specifically identified in the Engagement Summary (or Cash Payment Engagement Agreement, as applicable) to which these Terms and Conditions are attached or incorporated by reference (the "Matter"). Hendricks Law ("Attorney," "Hendricks Law," or "the Firm") agrees to provide the services described for the Matter, and Client agrees to the terms below. Excluded Services. All services not described in the Engagement Summary are expressly excluded from this engagement and will require a separate written agreement, including but not limited to: appeals; representation in any criminal court; motions to reopen or reconsider removal proceedings; new or amended applications arising from a change in employment; immigration matters for relatives not named in the Engagement Summary; and responses to Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs), Notices of Intent to Revoke (NOIRs), or Requests for Evidence (RFEs). No Guarantee of Outcome. Attorney will work in good faith to achieve a favorable result for Client. Attorney does not and cannot guarantee approval of Client's petition, application, or any other outcome of the representation. 2. Client Responsibilities Client agrees to timely provide all information, documentation, and evidence reasonably requested by Attorney, and to cooperate fully so that Attorney can prepare and present Client's case in the manner most appropriate for the relevant agency. The 60-Day Rule. Client is responsible for providing all requested documentation within 60 days of the date the Matter opens, or within 60 days of any additional request for documentation, and for maintaining communication with Hendricks Law. If Client fails to do so, the case will be closed and no further work will be performed and no further payments accepted until the case is reopened as described under "Case Closure and Reopening" below. Current Contact Information. Client will immediately notify Attorney of any change in address, telephone number, or email. Hendricks Law may close a case where it is unable to reach Client through the contact information on file. Interpreters. If Client is not fluent in English or Spanish, Client is required to bring an interpreter fluent in Client's native language to all appointments with Attorney. Translations. For all non-English documents other than Spanish, Client is responsible for providing Attorney with a certified English translation. For Spanish-language documents exceeding two pages, Client will be charged $25.00 per page, payable immediately. 3. Fees; Advance Fee and Trust Account Disclosure The total Legal Fee, any initial startup or deposit amount, and the applicable payment structure for the Matter are set out in the Engagement Summary. Where New Mexico Gross Receipts Tax (NMGRT) applies, it is included in the stated Legal Fee. Advance Fees Held in Trust. Upon receipt of all or any portion of the Legal Fee in advance of completing the Matter, those funds are placed in Hendricks Law's client trust account and are earned incrementally as work is performed, consistent with the benchmarks disclosed in the Engagement Summary (the "Benchmarks"). Consistent with the New Mexico Rules of Professional Conduct governing advance and flat fees, the Benchmarks disclose how Hendricks Law's fee is earned as the Matter progresses rather than only upon completion. Paying the Legal Fee in advance does not affect Client's right to terminate the attorney-client relationship at any time. If that relationship terminates before the agreed-upon services are complete, Client may be entitled to a refund of the unearned portion of the Legal Fee, determined by reference to the Benchmarks. Administrative Cost. A $250.00 administrative cost is immediately earned by Hendricks Law when the Matter opens and is non-refundable. Government and Filing Fees. Government filing fees are Client's responsibility, are separate from the Legal Fee, are disclosed for informational purposes in the Engagement Summary, and are subject to change by the relevant agency. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Hendricks Law does not collect government filing fees through its payment links or automatic payment process; Client is responsible for ensuring these fees are paid directly and timely. Other Costs. Client is responsible for the cost of acquiring evidence (including expert witnesses, tax records, criminal records, and similar documents), photographs, fingerprints, background checks, translations, all filing fees, and mailing fees exceeding $5.00. Appeals-related documents, where applicable under a separate agreement, may be sent by overnight courier at Client's expense. All filing and mailing fees are due before the corresponding documents are filed or mailed. 4. Additional and Out-of-Scope Work Work outside the scope described in the Engagement Summary, including, without limitation, responding to an RFE, obtaining additional evidence on Client's behalf, unexpected interview preparation, or other additional services, requires a separate written agreement and is billed hourly at $250.00 per attorney hour and $150.00 per legal assistant hour, with a minimum charge of 30 minutes, unless otherwise agreed in writing. Travel Costs. Client is responsible for attorney travel costs associated with any interview or hearing outside Bernalillo County, New Mexico, including airfare, mileage, food, lodging, and related expenses, billed in addition to attorney hourly time. Communications. Ordinary case-related communication with a Hendricks Law legal assistant is not separately billed while the Matter is active. If the attorney-client relationship terminates and an accounting of time is required, or where "Client-Requested Meetings" below applies, communications are valued at $62.50 per conversation with a legal assistant and $125.00 per conversation with an attorney. 5. Client-Requested Meetings Hendricks Law legal assistants handle the day-to-day work on Client's Matter and are able to answer most questions. If Client requests a meeting that can be handled by the assigned legal assistant, that meeting is billed at $125.00 per hour with a 30-minute minimum. If Client requests, or the legal assistant determines it is necessary to escalate to, a meeting directly with the attorney for a matter that could otherwise be handled by the legal assistant, that meeting is billed at $250.00 per hour with a 30-minute minimum. 6. Payment Method and Automatic Payments Except for Clients who pay the full Legal Fee in cash at signing under a separate Cash Payment Engagement Agreement, Client is required, as a condition of this engagement, to maintain a valid payment method (debit or credit card) on file with Hendricks Law's payment processor for the full duration of any deposit-plus-installment payment plan and for the LEO AI Subscription described under "LEO AI Subscription and Trial" below. Missed Payments; 30-Day Cure Period. If a scheduled automatic payment is declined, returned, or otherwise not received when due, Hendricks Law will notify Client and will initiate case-closure proceedings under "Case Closure and Reopening" below. Client has 30 calendar days from the date of the missed payment to cure the default in full, including any late fees described below, or the case will be closed and no further work performed until the case is reopened. Late Fees and Interest. Any payment not received when due, including a missed automatic payment not cured within the periods described above, is subject to a late fee equal to 3% of the amount due or $50.00, whichever is greater, assessed on the 20th of the month in which the payment was due, plus interest at 6% per annum on the unpaid balance. Returned Payments. If a payment is returned for any reason, Client is responsible for all fees resulting from the return and must pay the returned amount, the return fee, and any applicable late fee within 10 days of the return, or before the end of the month in which the return occurred, whichever is first. 7. Case Closure and Reopening A case may be closed under the 60-Day Rule (see "Client Responsibilities" above) or for a missed payment not cured within 30 days (see "Payment Method and Automatic Payments" above). While a case is closed, no further work will be performed and no further payments will be accepted. Funds Earned Upon Closure. If a case is closed under this Section, all funds paid to Hendricks Law up to the date of closure are deemed earned and allocated to case consultation; case set-up; case assessment and strategy; letters, calls, and other communications attempted by Hendricks Law; case management software; creation and storage of the case file; and legal and staff time expended, consistent with the Benchmarks disclosed in the Engagement Summary. Reopening. Client may request that a closed case be reopened. Before work resumes, Client must cure any outstanding default in full and pay a $250.00 reopening fee. 8. LEO AI Subscription and Trial Unless Client's Engagement Summary or Cash Payment Engagement Agreement states otherwise, LEO, Hendricks Law's AI-assisted immigration case support tool, is included with this engagement beginning on the date of Client's initial payment. Access to LEO is provided at no charge for the first three (3) months (the "Trial Period"). Automatic Conversion After Trial. Unless Client cancels before the Trial Period ends, LEO automatically converts to a paid subscription of $25.00 per month, billed automatically to the payment method on file, beginning in month four of the engagement and continuing monthly until canceled. Cancellation. Client may cancel the LEO subscription at any time by notifying Hendricks Law. Canceling before the Trial Period ends results in no charge. Canceling after the Trial Period ends stops future monthly charges but does not refund charges already billed. Independent of Legal Fee. The LEO subscription is separate from, and does not reduce or replace, the Legal Fee for Client's Matter. 9. Term and Termination The attorney-client relationship terminates at the conclusion of the current Matter (that is, when the relevant agency approves or denies the requested benefit or relief, or administratively closes the case), or when Client terminates the relationship, or when Attorney withdraws as permitted under Rule 16-116 (formerly Rule 1.16) of the New Mexico Rules of Professional Conduct, whichever occurs first. 10. Communication Policy What Client Can Expect. Professional service; consistent communication (if Client's case is awaiting government processing and Client has not heard from the Firm in over a month, Client is welcome to call for a status update); courteous communication from all staff; and hard work and fair treatment. If these expectations are not met, Client may contact Michael Hendricks directly by email. Working Together Efficiently. Hendricks Law asks that Client limit phone calls to once per week and use email where possible, as it is generally the most effective way to reach the legal assistant assigned to Client's case. Each legal assistant responds to calls by the end of the next business day. This helps the Firm devote adequate time to every client's case. 11. General Provisions Governing Law; Jurisdiction. Any dispute between the parties arising from this engagement will be resolved under the laws of the State of New Mexico, with jurisdiction in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Entire Agreement; Incorporation by Reference. These Terms and Conditions, together with Client's signed Engagement Summary (or, for cash-paying clients, the Cash Payment Engagement Agreement in which these Terms and Conditions are set out in full), constitute the entire agreement between Client and Hendricks Law regarding the Matter and supersede all prior discussions or understandings. If there is any conflict between these Terms and Conditions and the Engagement Summary, the Engagement Summary controls as to the Legal Fee, payment structure, and Benchmarks specific to Client's Matter. Amendment; Version Control. Hendricks Law may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The version in effect on the date Client signs the Engagement Summary (or Cash Payment Engagement Agreement) governs that engagement.