Limited Engagements

Revised February 10, 2022 

Limited Engagements Only.

These terms and conditions govern the limited engagement where Ridgeline Law Office, Inc., a California professional and benefit corporation (“Law Firm”), will, if offered by Law Firm, meet for up to only one (1) hour with you (“Client”) for a limited consultation to discuss a specific matter and whether and how Law Firm might advise you in connection with that matter. 

Binding Agreement. 

By submitting payment for the limited, one (1)-hour consultation, you accept and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions. These terms and conditions are referred to below as this Agreement.  

Changes to Terms and Conditions

Law Firm may revise and update this Agreement from time to time in Law Firm’s sole discretion. All changes are effective immediately when Law Firm posts them on its scheduling website, and apply to all consultations scheduled thereafter. However, any changes will not apply to any consultations that were scheduled prior to the changes being posted, even if the consultations occur after the posting.  

Please read this Agreement carefully. By submitting payment for the limited, one (1)-hour consultation, you are entering a binding contract, as set forth below. 

1. Conditions. This Agreement will not take effect, and Law Firm will have no obligation to provide legal services, unless and until Client delivers payment to Law Firm in advance.  

2. Scope of Services. Client hires Law Firm for only a limited consultation of up to one (1) hour, by videoconference or telephone, to discuss a specific matter, as previously agreed via email, and whether and how Law Firm might advise you in connection with that matter. This Agreement does not cover litigation services of any kind, whether in court, arbitration, administrative hearings, or government agency hearings, nor does this Agreement cover tax advice of any kind. Services in any matter not described above as part of this initial scope of work will require a separate written. Client acknowledges and agrees that Law Firm is not engaged to provide any further advice in connection with the specific matter or otherwise, unless and until the parties execute a separate written engagement letter detailing such matter and Client provides the corresponding deposit in advance of services. 

3. Legal Fees and Billing Practices. Client agrees to pay the applicable fee at the time of scheduling the consultation. The fee is deemed fully earned and nonrefundable, unless Client cancels or reschedules the consultation more than twenty-four (24) hours in advance. Client acknowledges and agrees that Client’s scheduling the consultation requires Law Firm to dedicate time for such consultation and that if the consultation is not canceled or rescheduled more than twenty-four (24) hours in advance, Law Firm may not be able to reallocate the time and will suffer economic damages as a result of Client’s actions. 

4. Disclaimer of Guarantee and Estimates. Nothing in this Agreement and nothing in statements by Law Firm and its representatives to Client will be construed as a promise or guarantee about the outcome of the matter. Law Firm makes no such promises or guarantees. Comments by Law Firm and its representatives about the outcome of the matter are expressions of opinion only. Estimates of fees given by Law Firm and its representatives shall not be a guarantee. Actual fees may vary from estimates given.  

5. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the parties. No other agreement, statement or promise made on or before the effective date of this Agreement will be binding on the parties.  

6. Severability in Event of Partial Invalidity. If any provision of this Agreement is held in whole or in part to be unenforceable for any reason, the remainder of that provision and of the entire Agreement will be severable and remain in effect.  

7. Modification by Subsequent Agreement. This Agreement Law Firm may revise and update this Agreement from time to time in Law Firm’s sole discretion, and all changes are effective immediately when Law Firm posts them on its scheduling website, and apply to all consultations scheduled thereafter; provided, further, however, that any such changes will not apply to any consultations that were scheduled prior to the changes being posted, even if the consultations occur after the posting. This Agreement, as governing past consultations, may be amended or modified by subsequent agreement of the parties only by an instrument in writing signed by both of them. 

8. Effective Date. This Agreement will govern all legal services performed by Law Firm on behalf of Client during the consultation. The date at the beginning of this Agreement is for reference only. Even if this Agreement does not take effect, Client will be obligated to pay Law Firm the reasonable value of any services Law Firm may have performed for Client. 

9. Legal Malpractice Insurance. As of the date of this Agreement, Law Firm has errors and omissions (legal malpractice) insurance applicable to the services to be rendered pursuant to this Agreement, subject to any applicable deductible or self-insured retention. 

10. Document Storage Policy. Law Firm’s policy is to keep records related to this engagement for one (1) year. However, Law Firm does not keep any original Client records; rather, Law Firm, will upon Client’s request, return those records to Client at the completion of the services rendered under this Agreement, whether or not Client has paid for all services. When records are returned to Client, it is Client’s responsibility to retain and protect its records for possible future use. Client acknowledges and agrees that upon the expiration of the one (1) year period, Law Firm shall be free to destroy Client’s records related to this engagement. If Client chooses to take possession of the file, Law Firm may copy all or any part of the file.  

11. Choice of Law/Forum Selection. This Agreement is deemed to have been executed, and is intended to be performed in the State of California, subject to its laws, regardless of whether services are actually rendered outside of the State of California. The laws of the State of California shall govern this Agreement and any dispute arising from this Agreement, without regard to its body of law controlling conflicts of laws. The venue for the judicial resolution of any such dispute, except as set forth in section 12 below, shall be proper only within San Francisco, California.  

12. Arbitration; Mediation. In the event we are unable to resolve a dispute concerning fees, costs, or both under this agreement, the parties shall submit the dispute to arbitration before the Bar Association of San Francisco (“BASF”) under Business and Professions Code §§ 6200 et seq., and pursuant to the BASF Mandatory Fee Arbitration Rules of Procedure, before resorting to litigation or private arbitration. The parties may elect to participate in mediation under BASF’s related mediation program. 

13. No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is for our sole benefit and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person or entity any legal or equitable right, benefit, or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.  

14. Communications, Off-Site Electronic Data Storage. Client understands that private communications between Law Firm and Client are protected by what is commonly known as “attorney/client privilege” and that Rule 1.6 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct and California Business and Professions Code Section 6068 generally require Law Firm to maintain and protect the confidentiality of Client’s information and communications, unless the attorney reasonably believes disclosure is necessary to prevent a criminal act that the attorney reasonably believes is likely to result in death of, or substantial bodily harm to, an individual, and that such obligations extend after the Client’s engagement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Client understands that cellphone and email communications are potentially less secure than other forms of communication, as third parties have greater access to these forms of communication by way of eavesdropping or “hacking.” Additionally, Client understands that Law Firm backs up all Client data to “the cloud” (an off-site electronic storage services provided by third parties, that can potentially be “hacked” by unknown persons who would use this information for their own personal or financial gain.) Client understands that email generated by Client is potentially not private. Client confirms that to the degree Client uses email and provides to Law Firm Client’s email address, Client has confirmed that email communication is secure to Client’s satisfaction. Client confirms that Client understands what “off-site electronic storage” means, understands the potential risk of hacking of such electronically stored records off-site, and that Client agrees that Law Firm may use this form of data storage with Client’s file. If Client has any critically sensitive information and/or documents that Client does NOT want Law Firm to back-up to “the cloud,” Client agrees to specifically instruct Law Firm in writing and identify what piece of information is to be protected from electronic storage. Client may opt out of electronic storage altogether, if Client instructs Law Firm in writing accordingly. Client understands that Law Firm uses primarily cellphone and email methods to communicate with clients. Client understands and accepts the risks of cellphone and email communication interception, which may act to waive attorney/client privilege. In the event Client has information that Client does not wish to convey via cellphone and/or email, Client shall inform Law Firm, and said communication shall happen in the context of an in-person meeting.