Overview:
At the law offices of Gina Calogero, we do not offer free consultations except in the case of people covered by a recognized legal referral plan. We charge a $300 flat fee for family law consultations and a $250 flat fee for animal law cases. We do not charge a consultation fee for Wills and Estates or Real Estate matters, because the fees are paid upon execution of the documents, and municipal court retainers are usually flat fees in which the initial consultation is included in the total fee.
They say you get what you pay for. A legal consultation is no exception. In a typical “free” consultation, you can expect to meet the attorney for 20 minutes to a half hour, during which time you give only basic information about yourself and your case, get a sense of how much it might cost to retain the attorney, hear a sales pitch, and walk away with little useful information.
At the law offices of Gina Calogero Law, our consultations are called “Intake Interviews.” And they take as much time as you need. The clock does not stop running at 20 minutes. We don’t just ask where you live and what is the name of the adverse litigant. We take all relevant information from you, in order to get a sense of your case. We take time to discuss the legal issues and we even give you valuable, useful legal advice. The information we take during the initial interview can be used during the case to create the necessary documents to file in court, such as a complaint, case information statement, and/or legal briefs and sworn statements outlining the facts of your case.
In cases of family law, we can give you a general idea of what you can expect in the process of a divorce case, discuss a range of possible amounts of child support and /or alimony, explain the various steps of the divorce process and even advise you as to domestic violence issues and how to protect yourself against abuse. We don’t limit you to an hour, but take as much time as needed (usually around 70-90 minutes) to get the basics of your case.
So many potential clients tell our receptionist or legal secretaries that they just “have a quick question” or that they want to know if they have a case before they are willing to commit to the consultation fee. Please do yourself and us a favor: if you don’t want to pay the fee after reading this article, don’t make the appointment or if you have second thoughts, please call to cancel. We have many clients who need our time and advice. By making an appointment you don’t intend to keep, you are taking away from them.
It has been our general experience that clients leave an intake interview breathing a sigh of relief. Their fears are allayed, their questions answered and – even if they don’t like the answers – they feel empowered by a sense of knowing what to expect. Their unrealistic expectations are brought into perspective. Sometimes, they walk away deciding not to litigate, because the costs or risks of filing suit are too great. But we believe that you will get your money’s worth.
Gina Calogero
Education:
Graduate of Rutgers Law School Newark 1985
Douglass College (Rutgers University) 1975
Kean College – Teaching Certificate
2012: Family Law Mediator, trained under Rule 1:40-12
Background:
A former teacher of English and Drama in Cliffside Park Middle School, Gina clerked for Superior Court John Geronimo J.S.C. in 1985-86. She founded the firm in 1993.
Municipal Prosecutor in Cresskill since 2000, Gina served as Prosecutor in New Milford and Emerson and taught Search & Seizure at New Milford Citizens Police Academy for seven years. She has been the Municipal Prosecutor in River Edge since January 2011.
Gina is a member of the Bergen County Bar Association, family law committee, the NJ State Bar Association, Animal Law Committee and Family Law Section, and Women Lawyers in Bergen.
She was appointed by Governor Whitman to the Board of Trustees of the NJ Police and Firemen’s Retirement System and also served on the Governor’s Council on School Vouchers. She is a lawyer with the NJ PBA legal protection plan.
Articles / Seminars:
Gina is the author of Pitfalls for Pitbulls, NJ Lawyer Magazine, August 2005. She was featured in numerous articles on animal law.
Seminar, custody of animals in divorce matters, NJ Bar Association Annual Meeting, 2008 and 2007. She also presented seminars on animal law at the ALPB International Convention in 2008 and 2006.
Gina has made guest appearances on “It’s Your Call with Lynn Doyle” (CN8), Eyewitness News First at Four, and The Today Show and was the subject of a Ch 9 News story on animal law.
Awards / Honors:
2012: Humanitarian Achievement Award, from Peter W. Rodino Jr. Society of Seton Hall Law School.
2002: Emerson Environmental Commission Commendation for preservation of 20 acres of watershed land with $7.5 million in grants and aid.
2004: Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders, for 10 years of service to victims of Domestic Violence through the Legal Advocacy Project.
2001-2003: Italian American Police Society, numerous Service Awards
2000: Women’s Club, Bergenfield – Women in Politics
Community Service :
Gina has been a choir member and a Cantor at Assumption Church in Emerson and also a member of the choir of Grace Church in Westwood. She is a former member of the Pro Arte Chorale.
Gina has served on the Emerson Planning Board, Emerson Borough Council, Bergen County Zoological Society and is General Counsel to the Board of Directors of Caring About the Strays (C.A.T.S.). She is counsel to Magnificat, Handmaid of the Lord Chapter. She is a member of the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (ALPB) and the Animal Law Committee of the New Jersey Bar Association.