FAQs
Is there a fee to join the Justice For Me Network?
There is no charge to join the Justice For Me network. You set your own rates and there are no quotas, minimums or commitments.
What if a client disputes my bill after I’ve been paid?
In the rare instance that a client raises a concern about an invoice, we encourage them to contact you and attempt to resolve the issue. If you decide that a credit is to be issued for any reason, we ask that you simply credit it on the next invoice you send us. If the case is completed and there is no further billing, a credit will be issued to the client and you would be responsible for reimbursing JFM for the amount of the credit, less our service fee. In all cases, the determination of whether to issue a credit or not is between you and your client.
What if my client goes over their credit limit? Do you re-qualify them for more credit?
Simply let us know and the client’s credit file will be reviewed. You will be able to easily keep track of your client’s available credit in the JFM dashboard. They will be judged on their payment history with JFM as well as their original credit summary. It is very important that you alert us to this possibility prior to doing work that could cause them to go over their limit.
How do we know if/when/how much the client qualifies for?
The attorney and the client will receive a welcome email detailing the amount of the credit line as soon as they are approved.
What if my client has zero or no credit history?
The client will be required to have a coapplicant.
What about any other out-of-pocket expenses that we incur? Can we bill the client directly for that to avoid the 15% fee?
The attorney is free to bill the client directly for any hard costs incurred.
What do I do when I receive your email from a client that has matched with me on the JFM website?
You simply contact the client via the information provided in the email.
Can I still charge an initial consultation fee?
Yes, if that is your standard practice. You should bill your JFM client as you would any other client.
What do I do if my client doesn’t have an email address?
All clients are required to have an email address as all of our systems are electronic.
Can I submit past due balances for current clients who have active cases with me?
That is decided on a case-by-case basis by JFM’s executive team and must be addressed prior to the client’s application being initiated.
Can I submit past due balances for clients who have closed cases with me?
No. However, on a case-by-case basis, if you have a current client who wants to use JFM because they cannot afford to pay future invoices and has a past due balance, we are happy to evaluate them for a line of credit.
Do I have to pay to be on the JFM website?
No. Your profile is included in our directory as a courtesy. You may choose to have it removed from our site at any time.
Do I have to pay when a new client contacts me from the JFM website?
No. JFM only makes money from our service fee for clients utilizing a line of credit to work with you.
How quickly will I get paid?
We try and pay all invoices, less our service fee, within 72 hours after we receive them. In rare cases, it may take up to 7 days.
Does the client have to approve the invoice before you pay me?
No. JFM pays your invoices directly. The invoice is then placed on the client’s account and they are sent a copy. The invoice will appear on their next statement for payment.
Do I still send my invoices to the client?
We generally recommend that you send them to us and allow us to send them a copy to avoid confusion. However, if you would like to CC them when you send us the invoice, feel free to do so.
Does JFM fund my retainer?
No. JFM only pay invoices for work that is completed by you. All money that you receive is for payment of invoices presented. As such, there is no need for trust accounting with JFM clients.
How large is the client’s line of credit?
When you initiate the credit process via the JFM Attorney Portal, we ask that you estimate the amount for the entire engagement as well as the type of case. If we are able to approve the client, they will be approved for the entire engagement amount. Since the line is only used when you present JFM with an invoice for work done, the client does not have to worry about making any payments, including interest payments, to get things started.
What if it is a criminal case?
JFM will fund most infractions and misdemeanors. While JFM will fund some low-level felony issues, all are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. In all criminal cases, an approved co-applicant is required.
What if my client is late on their payment or stops paying?
In the rare case that a client is late making their JFM payment, we may have to put their account on hold. In that case, you will be notified immediately and be paid for the work you have done up to that date. Once the client’s account is current, you will be notified and can submit invoices again for payment.
How quickly do I need to submit my invoices?
You must submit your invoices within 60 days of completing the work. This generally covers attorneys who bill on a monthly basis so that we receive their invoice the first week of the month following their billing month. By following this, we can prevent surprises for the clients. We are not able to fund invoices submitted that cover work that is more than 60 days old.
What States does JFM operate in?
Currently, we can offer loans in the 24 following states, however, we are expanding all the time so please reach out if you don’t see your state on the list.
Alaska
Arkansas
Colorado
Connecticut
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Kansas
Massachusetts
Michigan
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Oklahoma
Oregon
North Carolina
South Carolina
Texas
Utah
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Does JFM do background checks on Attorneys?
When an attorney asks to join the JFM network, we check the attorney’s license status, as well as disciplinary and administrative history. Every JFM network attorney must be in good standing with all of the states to which they have been admitted to practice law. In addition, we check to see if the attorney has been publicly disciplined. We will not process applications from attorneys who have been disciplined within the last four years or have two or more public sanctions. In addition, we regularly check all attorneys in the network and will remove attorneys who have been disciplined by the bar since joining.