Working with your Lawyer
The hard part is over. You have already decided to work with your lawyer and they should have taken you on as a client at this stage. There are some additional questions you need to have answered, including:
- How will you be charged and how much? It is important to know if you will be paying an hourly rate, a flat fee, or if the attorney will take the case on a contingent basis. You should also know when payments are to be made.
- After reviewing the fee agreement, you should ask your lawyer if there are ways that make it easier to work with them that may reduce the amount of charges you have to pay. This may be as simple as writing letters or e-mails with questions so its more organized and allows your lawyer to respond when its more convenient. Phone conversations generally take more time for you and your lawyer and the more time something takes, the more you will be billed if you are being billed hourly.
- You should be respectful and friendly to all of the people in the lawyer’s office. This includes secretaries, paralegals, and others. Find out who to speak to when you have certain issues because your lawyer may be in court and they may be accessible at those times.
- Always remember that you are the one in control. Your lawyer may help you and advise you, but the decision making is still up to you.