The Law Office of Shaunna L. Browne, PLLC
BY: SHAUNNA L. BROWNE, ESQUIRE
“When family matters you need to call
The Law Office of Shaunna L. Browne, PLLC
for compassionate and competent assistance with all your family law needs”
When I was nine I wanted to be a hairdresser, but that changed when I was fourteen and was introduced to the New Hampshire legal system as the victim of abuse. After my experience with the legal system, I wanted to become an attorney so that I could assist others who were faced with entering the legal arena. I worked hard and was able to attend college and law school and realized my childhood goal when I re-entered the legal system as an attorney.
I am now able to help families and individuals who suddenly find themselves thrust into our legal system. I know first hand how overwhelming the legal system can be and I strive to help my clients gain an understanding of the legal process to help them prepare for whatever legal issue they may be presented with. I have found that the more knowledge and understanding one has the more powerful they will be.
Through-out my law school career I worked as a family law paralegal for Clark Law Offices. Attorney Cindy Clark taught me that practicing law is not just a business, but an opportunity to provide services to those who are in need of assistance in the New Hampshire legal system. I was able to learn the legal process and the emotional process entailed in divorce litigation. My job is not just to “win”, but to assist my client through the process so that they are prepared for the consequences of divorce. Although I enjoyed my employment at Clark Law Offices, I left that employment to become an associate attorney with the Law Firm of F. Michael Keefe and quickly became a partner in the firm of Keefe and Browne, P.A. After twelve (mostly) great years of practice in that firm, I decided to open The Law Office of Shaunna L. Browne, PLLC. Since then I have expanded my practice that currently includes two highly qualified associate attorneys and experienced support staff.
Because I have had the opportunity to work solely in the area of Family Law for a long period of time, I am able to maintain a very diverse and competent marital practice. To this day, I continue to concentrate in family law, but I was also able to gain valuable experience in criminal law, personal injury and civil litigation during my twelve years of practice in my former firm.
I continue to utilize my experience as a victim of child abuse, step-mother, wife, business partner, corporate officer and homeowner each and every day to represent the varied and diverse needs of my clients.
RETAINER REQUIREMENTS AND HOURLY FEE RATES
As much as I would like to concentrate solely upon providing legal services, I also must keep an eye on making sure that I am paid for the work that I do. As such, I require the payment of an advanced fee retainer at the beginning of any matter and provide each client with a monthly billing statement so that they can see the work that has been completed in their matter and the cost associated therewith. The goal is that each and every client will maintain a minimum of $2,500.00 in their retainer each month; however, I am willing to look at each client’s situation and make adjustments on a case by case basis as necessary to make sure that they have the representation that they need to succeed in their matter. If there are funds remaining in your trust account at the conclusion of your matter, then those funds will be returned to you.
My current hourly rate is $295.00 per hour and I strive to stretch my clients’ dollars to the extent possible by using my associate attorneys, who are billed at $185.00 per hour and my paralegals who are billed at a rate of $135.00 per hour for administrative or other functions that do not necessarily require the hands on involvement of a licensed attorney.
To assist my clients in paying for legal services, I accept MasterCard and Visa and many of my clients have found that to be a welcome accommodation, allowing them to benefit from our reputation and experience and address payments and fees in a manner that might be more manageable for them.