A lawyer
in your corner.
Dana Whitlock, attorney at law in Providence. Employment, housing, family and wills for people and small businesses. The fee is agreed before the work starts.
§ 1 Practice
What has happened?
Start with what happened, in your own words. I will tell you which kind of law it is.
§ 2 How it runs
1
Day one
A first call
Twenty minutes, free. You tell me what happened and I tell you whether you need a lawyer at all.
2
Within five working days
A letter of advice
Where you stand, what it could cost and what I would do next, in two pages of plain English.
3
Before I start
A fee in writing
One fixed fee, or stages with a fee for each. You approve it before any work starts.
4
Weeks two to eight
I do the talking
Letters, calls and meetings with the other side. Five matters in six end here.
5
Only if needed
A hearing, if it comes to that
If yours is the one in six that goes to court, I stand up for you myself.
6
Last day
Closed
The outcome in writing, your papers back, and a final bill that matches the first one.
§ 3 Matters
Recent matters, in one word each.
§ 4 Fees
No hourly billing. Each piece of work has a price, and you see it in writing before I begin. If the work grows, so does the quote, and only with your say-so.
First call
Twenty minutes, by phone
Free
Letter of advice
Two pages, within five working days
$350
Severance agreement review
Read, explained and negotiated once
$450
Deposit recovery
Letter, follow-up and filing if needed
$450
Eviction defence
In stages, hearing included
From $1,200
Simple will
$650 for a couple
$400
Commercial lease review
Marked up, with a one-page summary
$600
Uncontested divorce
Court filing fee not included
$1,800
§ 5 About
I spent six years at a large firm acting for employers and landlords. I learned how those cases are run, and how often the other side settles when someone competent writes back.
In 2017 I opened this office to be that someone, for the people on the receiving end. I take every first call myself. You get my direct line, a fee in writing and a plain answer, usually within the week.
Rhode Island 2011, Massachusetts 2013
Six years acting for employers and landlords
English and Portuguese
86 Weybosset Street, Providence, by appointment
Dana Whitlock
Attorney at law
§ 6 Clients
In their words.
§ 7 Questions
The six things people ask in the first five minutes. If yours is not here, it is a good reason to ring.
Do I need a lawyer at all?
Often not. About a third of first calls end with me telling the caller what to write or who to ring, at no charge.
What will it cost?
You get a fee in writing before I start: one fixed fee for most work, stages for anything that may go to court. I do not bill by the hour.
How fast can you start?
First calls are usually the same or the next working day. If there is a deadline on a letter or a court date, say so and I will call you first.
What if I cannot afford it?
Tell me on the first call. I can spread a fee over several months, and if you qualify for free legal aid I will say so and tell you where to apply.
Will I deal with you or an assistant?
With me. I take the first call, write the letters and, if it comes to that, stand up in court. A paralegal helps with filing and nothing else.
Do you only work in Providence?
I act across Rhode Island and in the nearby Massachusetts courts. Meetings can be in person, by phone or by video.
Tell me what happened.
I will say where you stand.
The first call is free and takes about twenty minutes. Monday to Friday, 8.30 am to 6 pm. If there is a deadline on a letter, say so first.