Thanks for the vote, Mark. I would make a couple of observations, too...
First, I travel pretty much all over Virginia, because the kind of cases I handle are limited (defensive litigation, mostly criminal, mostly involving firearms, serious felonies, or allegations of violent behavior - no wills, divorces, real estate closings, etc.); though it does cost more for me to go to, say, Wise County or Danville than it does for me to go to Spottsylvania or Front Royal - the former are two or three day trips for me, the latter are each about one hour away.
Secondly, a "retainer" is a fixed amount of money you pay on a periodic basis to an attorney just for the privilege of being able to say that he's your attorney (as well as to keep him from becoming the attorney of anyone who may want to sue you). A "retainer" is earned when paid, and no particular work is required. I do not charge any retainer. I charge by the case for actual work to be done, and I generally charge an "advance against costs and fees", which is the client's money held by me in a special "attorney escrow" account at a bank used only to hold other people's money. I take my fee when I've earned it and pay costs (e.g., court reporter fees) as they arise out of it. The balance is still the client's money and is returned after the dust settles. The people who pay retainers are generally folks like chemical and oil companies who get sued a lot, and want to have some assurance that whatever comes up, McGuire, Woods or Hunton and Williams will take care of it for them.
