Intro
The calculation of the amount of a refund depends in part on what the payment was for and whether the refund is required by law or at the discretion of SRL.
Amount of refund
The amount of any required refund due is calculated by subtracting the value of any services provided and cost of any expenses incurred from paid and prepaid fees and costs.
The amount of any discretionary refund due is up to SRL and will take into account the totality of the circumstances.
The same principles apply to cancellation of any obligation to make payment.
Value of services
For standard services, the value of services provided is calculated by one of two methods:
Multiplying SRL’s number of service hours by SRL’s rate(s) per hour, subject to any minimum time increments; or
Subtracting the proportionate value of events for which any services were not provided from the value of events for which any services were required to be provided.
Choice of method
The choice of the method for calculating the value of standard services is up to the discretion of SRL. For non-standard services, only method 1 is used.
For example
Let’s say you hire SRL for representation at your preliminary hearing, arraignment, and plea day. But SRL is able to represent you for only the first two events (e.g., due to a conflict of interest that surfaces). What happens? SRL can choose to skip calculating the value of services under method 1 for standard services. SRL can use the simpler formula under method 2 and simply refund 1/3 of what you paid. If you prepaid for any non-standard services, SRL would do the more complex calculation under method 1.