Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law

Terms of Service

Introduction

Welcome to Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law’s Terms of Service page. This page details the terms and conditions which apply to your use of Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law’s website, resources, and legal services. If you engage with Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law, interact with our website, source tips and education through our resources, or choose to retain us for legal representation, you accept and agree to be bound by the following terms of service. If you do not accept these terms of service, please do not use or access our services or website. The services provided by Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law adhere to transparency, advocate for our clients, and protect their rights throughout the entirety of their legal journey.

Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law Overview

Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law is a criminal defense law firm that focuses on providing high quality legal representation and educational information to people facing criminal charges. Douglas Coutinho is a graduate of Stanford Law School and has over a decade of courtroom experience. We primarily serve clients in Phoenix, Arizona and the surrounding area. We are dedicated to fighting for the Constitutional rights of our clients and educating the public about the criminal justice system.

MISSION; DO WHAT IT TAKES TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS

Agreement to Terms

By accessing, using, and/or engaging with the services of Coutinho Criminal Law, via this website or any other service, you consent that you are over the age of 18 and have capacity to consent, understand and accept these agreements. By accessing these services through this website and/or engaging with our legal services, you accept these Terms of Service. If you are accepting on behalf of a third party (such as a business), then you are representing that you have the authority to consent to these agreements on their behalf and bind them until these terms are specifically updated and replaced by new terms. Coutinho Criminal Law may revise, change or otherwise update these Terms & Conditions at any time without notice. Your continued use of our services after changes have been made constitutes acceptance of those changes.

Services Scope

We offer representation, consultation, and/or training regarding criminal defense matters. Our services include but are not limited to legal representation in criminal matters (felony, misdemeanor, DUI, drug, theft, property crimes), legal consultation, analysis of the circumstances presented to us, and articles or other materials that concern criminal law topics. Whether we provide services is dependent on the circumstances presented. Services are provided according to professional and legal ethical standards.

No Lawyer-Client Relationship from Website Usage

Viewing or using this website to read one or more articles or to access other resources does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law, PC. Unless and until you and our firm have a signed engagement agreement for formal legal representation, no such relationship exists and nothing you communicate to us is protected by attorney-client privilege.

Consultation and Legal Representation

Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law provides consultations to determine your requirements. In a consultation, we can discuss the facts of the case, give you some initial advice and outline a course of action. A solicitor-client relationship is formed only on execution of an engagement agreement and payment of a retainer (if applicable). We reserve the right to not act in the case at our discretion, including where a conflict may arise, or for other professional reasons.

User Obligations

The use of this website or our services constitutes agreement to provide complete and accurate information to us during any consult or communications. Further, you agree to take responsibility for any passwords or private information provided or generated during the course of creating a relationship with us. You also agree that neither this website nor our services shall be used for unlawful purposes, including but not limited to sending false, misleading or otherwise illegal email or attempts to compromise systems security.

Expenses, Fees and Payments Protocols

Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law has a clear fee agreement structured around the individual complexity of your case and the legal advice required. Fees for representation or legal opinions will be agreed upon at your initial consultation and confirmed in an engagement agreement. Information on payment terms, retainer fees and billing practices will be outlined. Clients are required to pay on time according to the schedule agreed upon. Fees may be suspended or services terminated for non-payment. Fees may be paid by cheque, credit card or electronic funds transfer. Fees are subject to any taxes imposed under Federal and State laws.

Privacy and Confidentiality Agreement

At Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law, our top priority is client confidentiality. Information given in consultations with our firm or otherwise in the course of representation will be held in the strictest confidence and is protected by the law and ethics of our profession. Please do not include any of your privileged information in any information you submit to us via our website or email, as that may not be secure unless we have advised you otherwise. Our Privacy Policy describes how we receive, use and protect your personal information.

Intellectual Property Rights

All content on our website, including text, articles, graphics, logos and educational materials (the “Materials”) are the sole property of Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law unless otherwise indicated. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, modify or create derivative works from the Materials without written permission from Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law. You may use the Materials for your own personal, non-commercial use only, and must give proper attribution.

Use of Educational Content

Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law provides educational articles and legal information that empowers clients and the public. These articles and information are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. We attempt to provide accurate and reliable materials; however, we do not guarantee the accuracy or reliability of our materials. Information may be outdated or may apply differently in different legal situations. Always consult with a qualified attorney prior to making legal decisions.

Links and Third-Party Materials

Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law is not responsible for and does not endorse or warrant the accuracy, timeliness, relevance or safety of information contained in external sites or resources. You use third party resources at your own risk and are bound by the security, privacy and other policies of the resource provider.

Limitation of Damages

To the fullest extent of the law, Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law, attorneys, staff, and agents do not bear liability for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential or punitive damages that arise from or result in your using of our website, information, or services in any way. Our firm makes its services available and information accessible as-is and does not give any guarantees that the website or information online has no defects, is secure, uninterrupted, or error-free. The only means of redress available to you if you are unhappy with our service or the website is to stop using them both.

Indemnity Provisions

You will indemnify, defend and hold harmless, Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law, its lawyers, employees and affiliates from and against any claims or liabilities, damages, losses or expenses (including reasonable solicitors’ fees) resulting from your violation of these Terms of Service or from your improper use of our website or services.

Conduct and Ethics Obligations

Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law performs all legal work in strict accordance with the ethical rules, privacy rules and all other professional standards which apply to and bind attorneys in the state of Arizona and in the United States. We believe in the principles of fair representation, truthfulness and all applicable laws, rules and regulations. Clients agree to fully cooperate and be truthful with us at all times.

Service Termination

Any party to the attorney-client relationship may terminate that relationship at any time, subject to the fee provisions of the engagement agreement and the provisions of applicable law. Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law may withdraw from the representation for just cause, including but not limited to non-payment, conflicts of interests, or failure to cooperate. Upon termination of representation, clients will be given a final statement of account and unearned retainer funds will be refunded as appropriate.

Client Communication Agreement

We make every effort to communicate promptly and efficiently with clients. These communications may be via phone, e-mail or in person depending on the circumstances. Reply to all messages (whether via phone or e-mail) occurs expeditiously but please be mindful to allow for a reasonable response time, particularly during times when caseload could impact our availability. When time is of the essence, please call our office directly at (480) 253-9354.

Disclaimers

The materials available on this website are made available to the public only for general informational purposes and do not constitute legal advice. No attorney client relationship is formed by use of our site. While we regularly update information available on our site, laws change and may vary between jurisdictions. We have no duty to advise users of changes in the law that may affect their matters and users assume responsibility for consulting with qualified counsel regarding their particular circumstances.

Applicable Law and Jurisdiction

Your use of our website or service and these Terms of Service are governed by the laws of the State of Arizona and applicable United States federal law. Any claims, legal proceedings or litigation arising in connection with your use of our website or service will be brought solely in the courts of Maricopa County, Arizona.

Dispute Procedure

In the event of a dispute relating in any way to your use of our services or our website, both you and we agree to attempt to resolve it by good faith negotiation. If resolution cannot be achieved, disputes may be brought before an agreed upon mediation or arbitration (as defined in the engagement agreement) forum. Nothing herein shall prevent either you or us from seeking relief in a court of competent jurisdiction.

Modifications to the Terms of Service

Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law may amend or change these Terms of Service at any time as a result of changes in our practices, legislative, regulatory requirements and/or the service we offer. Please review this page from time to time. When we make changes, the effective date of the revision will be provided at the top of the page. Your continued use of any part of the service after such notice period will constitute your acceptance of such changes.

Accessibility

Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law is dedicated to ensuring accessibility of our website and services for persons with disabilities. If you are having difficulty viewing or accessing any part of our site or otherwise need assistance with respect to the use of this site, please continue to read on so that we may assist you.

Minors and Ineligible Users

Our services and website are not intended for use by children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal data from children. If we have been made aware that a child has provided us with personal data, we will take steps to delete such data. Users who are barred from receiving legal services under the applicable State law or by administrative order, law, rule, or regulation are prohibited from using our website or accessing our services.

Severability Clause

Should any term of these Terms of Service(s) be found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the balance of these Terms of Service(s) shall remain in full force and effect. Even if one particular clause turns out to be invalid, the other terms are still binding.

Waivers

No waiver of any term or condition of the Terms of Service shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or any other term. Failure of Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law to enforce any right or provision does not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

Entire Agreement

These Terms of Service, together with any other written agreement that we might enter into with you and our Privacy Policy, constitutes the entire agreement between you and Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law with respect to your use and access of our services and website and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous communications and proposals, whether oral or written.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service or require additional information with respect to your legal requirements, please contact Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law at:

We make every effort to protect your defense and your rights! Call today to learn how we may assist you.

Acknowledgment

By accessing this website or engaging in any business with us, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be legally bound by the following terms: These Terms of Service govern your access to and usage of our website (the “Site”) and any Support Services we may provide. By using this Site or engaging in any business with us, you agree to these Terms of Service, which may be updated or changed at any time and will become a binding contract between us. We value your trust in Douglas Coutinho Criminal Law and are happy to offer you our services.