How to Retain

In order to retain me, you must not only pay an appropriate sum of money (click here for how much I charge), but must complete a client interview form and sign a fee agreement with me. That form can be completed by you at my office when we meet, but if you wish to do so in advance, are too busy to meet anytime soon, or live faraway from the Tulsa, Oklahoma, area, you may download the Client Interview Form and Fee Agreement by clicking here; and after completing and signing simply mail, e-mail, or fax it to me.

I may be retained either in person or not. If not, you can simply retain me by communicating with and paying me by mail or by phone. You can fax or scan & e-mail any documentation you have to send me. If you have a PayPal account, you may even retain me online (see below), although I can process any debit or credit card with a VISA or Mastercard payment over the phone. I also accept payments by personal check, cashier's check, money order, and of course cash. as further explained below.

IN PERSON: If you wish to arrange an appointment, contact my office at (918) 371-1896. Although the appointment consultation is free, please understand that I do not want you to come in for an appointment until we have had an opportunity to talk on the phone or communicate by e-mail first so that I can understand your situation and you understand my point-of-view on it. Further, when coming in for an appointment, you are expected to have your retainer in hand to pay should you decide to retain me that day. If you wish to retain me from a distance, please read the information in the column toward the top-right of the page.

FROM AFAR: Some people do not wish to or cannot feasibly meet with me in person. This may be because they live in another country, another state, or another part of this state. It may be because they work long hours, travel at their job, or simply cannot afford to miss work. Regardless of the reason, that is fine. Some of these clients are never actually meet in person because we manage to avoid them ever having to travel in to Oklahoma to Court. Others I typically meet at or shortly before Court. To me, except for the lack of an initial in-person consultation, these cases do not 'feel' any different from cases with other clients, as I am still communicating with them throughout the pendency of the case and working on their case just the same. To retain me from afar, you can (a) mail in your completed client interview form and agreement to me along with a check or money order in the amount of what is stated for the particular type of action or what I quote you in an e-mail or telephone conversation or can give me a card number over the phone. Any payment by check or money order should be made to "Joel K. Mitchell, Client Trust," my bank account where your money stays until it is earned. You can also Fax OR Scan & E-mail these documents. If you want my fax number call to ask me. For obvious reasons (solicitors), I cannot simply list it here online.

In addition to paying me, completing the client interview form and signing the fee agreement, you also will need to at least attempt to provide me a copy of each of the following documents which are relevant and may be used by me during my representation of you during your case:

Last 3 years' tax returns, Last 3 months' paystubs, and last 3 months' bank statements for any checking or savings accounts with your name on them. Also, for divorces only, I also need: recent statement for any credit card or retirement account you are named on; any title or deed on which you are named.

To download a printable list of these items, click here.