This website isn’t legal advice to you
Let’s face it. This website is an advertisement.
Let’s say you see a BMW commercial on TV. Does that make you a BMW owner? Of course not.
So once you understand the truth that hodgen.com is one giant advertisement, you’ll understand a second simple truth. I’m not your lawyer just because you read the stuff on this website. And the stuff on this website isn’t specific legal or tax advice to you personally.
I know that I have a client (and you know that you have a lawyer) after we’ve done the normal stuff — we talk, I check for conflicts of interest, you sign a retainer agreement, and you send money.
Email, mobile phones, and privacy
Email is not private. Encrypted email is theoretically secure, but unless you’re a technical whiz you’ll never really know with certainty. And I’m most certainly not a technical whiz. If you are concerned about your private information, don’t put it in an email. We will make arrangements for you to send us PGP encrypted email, if necessary, after we have been formally retained by you.
Mobile telephone calls can be overheard by others. By all means use my mobile telephone number, but just be careful what you say on such a call. Let’s switch to a land line if the conversation turns to confidential information. Or get face-to-face. I’ve jumped on many flights for just this purpose.
Lawyer/client communications and privacy
Until we’re officially hired, we’re not your lawyers. This means that the things you tell us might not be protected by the attorney-client communications privilege. Translated: we don’t talk to anyone about your stuff. But if the government comes knocking, there’s no protection unless we’re hired. Be careful about what you tell us before you hire us.