Limited scope & packet terms.

Re: Limited-scope legal service for Wisconsin unemployment insurance appeal hearing preparation.

This is a limited-scope legal service. We review the information you provide and prepare a written packet with suggestions to help you represent yourself at your Wisconsin unemployment appeal hearing. We do not appear at the hearing, communicate with DWD, file documents, obtain the agency file, contact witnesses, monitor deadlines, or represent you in any ongoing matter unless we separately agree in writing.

1. Client and matter

The firm represents only the named client for the limited purpose of preparing a written hearing-preparation packet for the identified Wisconsin unemployment insurance appeal hearing. No spouse, family member, friend, witness, co-worker, employer, or third-party payer is our client unless the firm confirms otherwise in writing.

2. When the limited engagement begins

The attorney-client relationship begins only after the firm completes a conflict check, accepts the limited matter in writing, and the client confirms the required limited-scope acknowledgments. No attorney-client relationship is created merely by using this website, submitting an inquiry, calling the firm, or sending documents before the firm accepts the matter.

Until the firm accepts the matter in writing, the firm has not undertaken responsibility for any deadline and has no duty to file an appeal, contact the Department of Workforce Development, contact the hearing office, contact witnesses, obtain records, or take any action on your behalf.

3. Limited services included

If the firm accepts the limited matter, the firm will prepare a written hearing-preparation packet based on the information and documents you provide. Depending on the materials supplied and the time available before the hearing, the packet may include:

• issue notes tied to the unemployment determination or hearing notice;
• burden-of-proof and legal-standard notes for the hearing issue;
• suggested ways to organize your timeline, exhibits, and documents;
• suggested witness and testimony topics based on the facts you provide;
• practice questions or likely areas of questioning;
• suggested hearing strategy and points to emphasize or avoid; and
• a written outline or packet for your own review and use at the hearing.

The firm may decline to include any statement, argument, exhibit, or suggestion that the firm believes is inaccurate, misleading, unsupported, frivolous, outside the agreed scope, or inappropriate under the circumstances.

4. Services not included

Unless the firm and client sign a separate written agreement, the firm will not:

• appear with you at the unemployment appeal hearing;
• represent you before DWD, the UI Hearing Office, an administrative law judge, LIRC, or any court;
• file a notice of appearance or become counsel of record;
• speak for you, question witnesses, object to evidence, or introduce exhibits at the hearing;
• file documents, appeals, exhibits, subpoenas, adjournment requests, accommodation requests, or interpreter requests;
• obtain the agency file, employer records, personnel records, or any other records for you;
• communicate with DWD, the hearing office, LIRC, a court, your employer, your employer’s representative, or any witness;
• contact, prepare, or communicate with witnesses;
• monitor, calendar, or remind you about deadlines;
• provide ongoing advice after the packet is complete;
• prepare or file any later appeal, LIRC petition, judicial-review petition, or court filing;
• advise or represent you in discrimination, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage, severance, workers’ compensation, tax, immigration, benefits, contract, tort, criminal, overpayment, fraud, concealment, repayment, or penalty matters; or
• guarantee any result.

Any hearing representation, later appeal, ongoing advice, or other legal work requires a separate written agreement and may involve a different fee arrangement.

5. Your responsibilities

Because you remain self-represented unless a separate written agreement says otherwise, you are responsible for:

• filing any appeal and submitting any documents or exhibits to DWD or the hearing office;
• reviewing every determination, hearing notice, exhibit notice, and agency communication immediately;
• identifying, tracking, and meeting all deadlines;
• providing complete, accurate, and truthful information;
• providing the hearing notice, determination, appeal documents, employer documents, relevant correspondence, witness names, timelines, and other materials needed for the packet;
• providing enough benefit information to determine the maximum benefits at issue before the fee is finalized, including the weekly benefit rate, weeks at issue, monetary determination, or other available benefit information;
• reviewing the packet and confirming that the facts are accurate before using it;
• deciding whether and how to use, sign, file, or submit any document;
• attending the hearing and following all hearing instructions;
• presenting your own testimony, documents, witnesses, and arguments; and
• continuing any weekly claims, work-search steps, or other ongoing eligibility requirements while the appeal is pending.

6. Information supplied by the client

The packet is based only on the information and documents you provide. We cannot guarantee that the packet will address facts, documents, deadlines, arguments, or issues that were not provided to us. If you do not provide the hearing notice, determination, appeal documents, employer documents, relevant correspondence, witness information, or other necessary materials, the packet may be incomplete.

The firm does not independently obtain the agency file, verify every factual statement, interview witnesses, contact DWD, or search for missing records under this limited engagement.

7. Fee and Wisconsin unemployment fee limitation

The fee for this limited-scope service is $250, subject to any applicable Wisconsin unemployment fee limitation. If $250 would exceed the applicable statutory limit, the fee will be reduced to the maximum permitted amount unless a higher fee is approved by DWD.

For claimant-side administrative unemployment matters, counsel or an agent generally may not charge more than 10% of the maximum benefits at issue unless DWD approves a higher fee. The intake therefore asks for enough information to determine the maximum benefits at issue before the final fee is confirmed.

8. Payment timing and when the fee is earned

No fee is charged until your packet has been prepared and is ready for delivery. Once the packet is complete, you will be notified and asked to pay the applicable fee. After payment is received, the packet will be delivered to you.

The fee is earned when the firm has prepared the completed packet and made it ready for delivery, subject to any reduction required by an applicable Wisconsin unemployment fee limitation. If the firm declines the matter or does not prepare the packet, no fee is due for this limited-scope packet service.

9. Third-party payment

If someone else pays your fee, that person is not the client. The firm’s duties are owed to you. The third-party payer may not direct the representation, control the advice given, receive confidential information, or make decisions about your matter unless you give informed consent and the firm agrees.

10. Conflicts

The firm will perform a conflict check before accepting the limited engagement. You agree to promptly provide the names of your employer, former employer, related entities, supervisors, managers, witnesses, and any other individuals or organizations involved so the firm can evaluate conflicts.

11. Communications and confidentiality

The firm may communicate with you by email, phone, video call, text message, secure portal, or other reasonable method using the contact information you provide. Do not use an employer-owned device, employer email account, shared account, or monitored system to communicate with the firm.

Information you provide in connection with an accepted limited engagement will be treated as confidential and protected as required by applicable law and professional responsibility rules. The firm may use lawyers, staff, intake personnel, contractors, or service providers to assist with your matter under appropriate confidentiality obligations and attorney supervision.

12. End of limited representation

Unless terminated earlier, this limited engagement ends when the firm has completed the packet and made it ready for delivery. After the limited engagement ends, the firm has no duty to monitor your case, track deadlines, review agency notices, file appeals, respond to decisions, preserve rights, or take any further action unless you and the firm sign a new written agreement.

13. No guarantee

We do not guarantee any particular outcome. The outcome of your unemployment appeal depends on the facts, evidence, testimony, applicable law, agency procedures, the administrative law judge, and other factors outside the firm’s control.

14. Required acknowledgments

Before submitting intake and again before payment, the client must affirmatively acknowledge that:

• the service is limited to a written hearing-preparation packet;
• the client remains self-represented unless a separate written agreement says otherwise;
• the firm will not appear at the hearing;
• the firm will not contact DWD, file documents, obtain the agency file, contact witnesses, monitor deadlines, or provide ongoing advice unless separately agreed in writing;
• the fee may be reduced if required by the Wisconsin unemployment fee limitation;
• the packet is based only on the information and documents the client provides;
• no result is guaranteed; and
• no attorney-client relationship beyond the limited packet service is created unless the firm accepts the matter.