Opinions on AOPA legal services ?

I'm a participating attorney on the plan. I don't know what other
participating attorneys do, but I field at least a call every week from
a pilot, aircraft owner, or other interested aviation person who needs
legal advice. I dispense it free of charge, albeit with the hope that
if it passes beyond that first call, I'll get retained and perhaps
compensated for my efforts.

Just my $.02, but a single half-hour consult at the plan rate of $150
an hour means you're getting $75 of value for your $52.

Blue skies to all,

Darrell Clay
Cleveland, Ohio
http://ifrpilot.blogspot.com

On 6 Sep 2005 13:57:26 -0700, "
wrote in
.com::

I dispense it free of charge,

Darrell Clay,

Thank you for your input on this matter. But isn't it customary for
the majority of attorneys to provide an initial phone consultation to
potential clients without fee? At least that's been my experience. If
so, what benefit accrues to the AOPA Legal Services plan member for
the fee he pays? I have some idea of the answer to that question, but
I'd like to hear your response. Thanks again.

Rick's post summarizes much of my same thinking on this matter. In
many cases I will happily consult with folks free of charge; but to be
honest, there are traps that are easy to fall into when you do that,
and so attorneys have to be circumspect about the extent to which they
will provide legal advice and guidance to persons who may or may not
end up retaining the attorney.

And, for what it's worth, even though I'm a plan attorney, I'm also a
member. Just in case *I* need a good lawyer.

Blue skies,

Darrell Clay
Cleveland, Ohio
http://ifrpilot.blogspot.com

wrote:

And, for what it's worth, even though I'm a plan attorney, I'm also a
member. Just in case *I* need a good lawyer.

How's the saying go? "He who serves as his own attorney has a fool for a client."

George Patterson
Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to
use the Internet and he won't bother you for weeks.

Hey George,

Remember the Adams Family movie where the father announces that the
attorney who represents himself has a fool for a client and then goes
on to say, paraphrased: "As God is my witness, I am that fool!"?

One of the great lines of our time.

BTW, I've mentioned your signature line regarding the Internet to a lot
of people and you've gotten a lot of laughs.

All the best,
Rick

wrote:

BTW, I've mentioned your signature line regarding the Internet to a lot
of people and you've gotten a lot of laughs.

I'll have to let my brother know. I stole it from him. As an old fisherman, my
version goes "Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to
fish and you get rid of him on weekends."

George Patterson
Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to
use the Internet and he won't bother you for weeks.

I strongly recommend the following firm for legal advice:

http://realtytimes.com/rtcpages/20031016_airport.htm