January 2020: Therese J. Holmstrom joins John Gear Law Office as associate attorney

PictureTherese J. Holmstrom image
 Admitted to practice in Oregon since 2012, Therese has devoted most of her legal career thus far helping employers of all sizes with litigation and, more importantly, helping employers comply with employment laws so as to avoid it.
 
 Before turning to law, Therese worked in human resources for a cooperative grocery store and also served on the founding board of America's first cooperatively owned brewpub in Austin, Texas. And Therese also worked with other mission-driven entities such as the League of Women Voters of Texas and the Austin Parks Foundation. Looking forward, Therese plans to build on her employment law expertise and is excited about a chance to help real people while still being able to put her experience with nonprofits, coops and benefit companies to use.
 
  Therese has served as a board member for the Salem Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and she currently volunteers with Destination Imagination, an annual project-based learning program that blends STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) with the arts and social entrepreneurship. 
 
  Originally a Texan, Therese has grown webbed feet and considers Oregon home, visiting all 36 Oregon counties to prove it. Therese loves to travel with husband Bill and to watch sons Hays and Alex explore the world.
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Tired of same-old, same-old in board training? John Gear offers memorable and informative nonprofit presentations -- keynotes, workshops, seminars, half- or full-day training.

"John, thanks for giving a great presentation!  It was engaging and informative – exactly the style we needed with pertinent information."
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Do you offer free first consultations?

















Why don't we take credit or debit cards?




But what if I don't have any checks?






How can we help you?

  
PictureEnglish "Blue Plaque" marker for home of Samuel Johnson
"I do not care to speak ill of any man behind his back, but I believe the gentleman to be an attorney."

--- Samuel Johnson

Generally NO.  "Free" consults means charging other people to pay for the time spent offering "free" consults to others. So we offer transparent, honest, pricing. We charge our standard hourly rate of $300/hour for the first consult of about an hour or more (additional charges if the consult runs significantly more than an hour). So all hourly clients  can expect to be asked to pay for the first hour's consult fee of $300 before the first meeting.
 
If you hire us to handle a case suitable for a contingent fee arrangement, we still collect the initial consult fee, but we apply it towards your case costs deposit (which are usually $500 - $1,000).

JohnGearLaw.com/SalemConsumerLaw.com
  To ask about getting help or an appointment, call
       503-569-7777                

Banks charge small businesses like me outrageously high fees just so you can use a credit or debit card, and the card issuers put terms in their merchant contracts I don't like (including forced arbitration provisions). 

If you cannot pay by check, you can pay your fees or your costs deposit via PayPal, which is happy to accept your debit or credit card. Simply add the 3% PayPal charge to your total so I get the amount we agreed. That way, only the people who use a card pay for the service.

In this practice, we mainly help people who are having problems as consumers or employees, and elders (or families with elders) with estate planning or life care issues.  

We also have an active practice serving nonprofit organizations in all phases, from the initial idea through formation and obtaining IRS recognition as an exempt organization, and then helping the nonprofit grow, and thrive -- and sometimes helping with mergers and  dissolutions.

We also help adults of any age to plan for the unexpected and for their end of life issues, and for planning their affairs to best serve those they leave behind.

  • Consumer and employee law:  We have built up a good deal of expertise to help people anticipate and avoid legal problems by understanding how the law affects them and what they need to do to get the results they want.

    But sometimes legal problems can't be avoided, such as when someone treats you unfairly and you need to respond.  Sadly, among the many reputable businesses who pride themselves on treating everyone fairly, there are a few others, who often try to take advantage of their customers and even their employees at every opportunity. 

    Many lawyers promise to be aggressive and to fight for you to the bitter end.  It's an easy promise to make, and it can even be helpful sometimes.  What is more important though is finding an attorney who will put helping you ahead of "fighting for you," even if it means the attorney sees much less in fees.

    Sure, in rare cases, a legal brawl is the only thing that will do the job to protect your rights.  But a lot of time, not.        If you find yourself being treated unfairly or taken advantage of, our goal is doing what's best for you to see that you are made whole, as quickly and inexpensively as possible.

  • Elder law:  Life-care and end-of-life planning and preparations for seniors and adults with disabilities.  This includes working with families and caregivers to ensure that the planning is carried out properly, and working with younger adults and families throughout their lives to ensure that their interests are protected in the event of disability and their wishes are carried out after death.

  • Counsel and guidance for nonprofits about organizational form, incorporation, strategic planning, and organizational policies and procedures, all designed to reduce risk and maximize organizational effectiveness while creating satisfied customers and stakeholders and eliminating causes of complaints.

    As wise nonprofit leaders know, the "nonprofit" is just a tax status.  Nonprofits have to be every bit as sharp, well-organized, and responsive as for-profit businesses; AND they have to comply with additional restrictions and limitations that stem from the decision to incorporate as a nonprofit.

    John Gear Law Office offers nonprofits very experienced counsel in the realm of organizational design, development, documentation, and demonstrated operational management techniques.  From the initial idea through the successful launch and operation of your nonprofit, I can advise you about the pitfalls and the opportunities both.

  Also accepting matters relating to
  • Strategic planning and communications
  • Legislative and administrative issues
  • Policy tracking and advocacy
  • Dispute mediation
  • Privacy
  • Government transparency
  • Freedom of Information/Public Records
  • Open Meetings Act issues
  • Civil liberties
  • Unemployment insurance benefits
  • Other administrative appeals
  • Veteran's benefits
 
Like any professional service, legal advice and representation isn't free. If we don't make enough money providing services that people value, we won't be able to provide any services at all before long.

But we know the pressures clients face when seeking legal help. Before we work together to address your legal issues, we are happy to reach a fee agreement that you can feel good about: one that is clear, fair, and predictable. 

When possible, we will try to offer you a fixed, value-based fee for a fixed task, such as when drafting documents and providing limited consults. We can't always commit to a fixed fee though, and when that's the case, we are happy to discuss the factors in your case would require such a large fixed fee that it wouldn't make sense.