I contacted Phillips & Associates after getting a DUI. Mind you I have never, ever been in trouble with the law so i was nothing less than completly freaked out. After contacting other law firms, I was told that the laws were very strict on DUI in Arizona and the penalties very stiff... To include jail time. When I contacted Phillips, I explained my circumstances and expressed that i was very frightened by the thought of going to jail. The initial para-legal that I spoke to told me (and I quote) "We will make sure you don't spend even a day in jail." Well, this sold me and I entered into a contract with them, as I had been told by the other law firms that I WOULD get jail time. I was contacted again by a representative @ Phillips and quoted a fee of $9650, which was significantly higher (almost double) than the other law firms. I went ahead and agreed with this fee as I thought it must be worth it, as they were the only ones to promise me no jail time. After meeting with my attorney, almost 1 month after signing the contract, I was basically told i have no defense and will get jail time.
Ultimately, I did get 15 days in Tent City and then 30 days of house arrest $900. (Not to mention $3600 in fines, Alcohol education classes twice a week for 14 weeks @ $20 a pop, Traffic Survival School $55, Ignition Interlock for 18 months $1400, and 90 days drivers license suspension). I went back to Phillips and asked for some $ back. Graciously (yeah, whatever) they agreed to refund $1500, after i was assured that my lawyer had "worked very hard" on my case. When I received my refund check, I was surprised to also receive an itemization of all the work done on my case. It showed 15.3 hours!!! That comes to $532.68/ hr... RIP OFF!!! I spent approximately 90 minutes in the presence of my lawyer... Twice in his office (30 minutes or less each time) and once in the court room. Never hire these guys!!!
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