The old adage is that the best time to talk to a lawyer is when you don’t actually need one. Some of the reasons why you may want to speak to a lawyer include: 1. You Want to Get the Facts A licensed lawyer that practices in the area of law in which you have questions can tell you about the applicable laws that apply to your case.
Ahmed suggested setting up short, 15-20 minute meetings with your lawyer every month, or on a schedule that you and your lawyer agree on. Then you can call and follow-up on a schedule without worrying you're being a distraction.
As a general rule, you will hear from your attorney often at the beginning of your case as your attorney will need to gather relevant facts and information from you in order to develop a defense. After that, however, there is usually a lull in the case during the “discovery” stage.
A good one can help you get started on the right foot (or deal with rival companies.) Raad Ahmed, CEO and Founder of LawTrades, a site that helps people find a lawyer and get legal advice, explained that earlier is better if you think you need a lawyer, even if your case doesn't go to court.
There is no set formula for how often you will hear from your attorney. However, the key to a successful attorney client relationship is communication. Whenever there is an important occurrence in your case you will be contacted or notified.
Once a month is a good rule of thumb if things are slow, but if you are preparing for trial or in my case an administrative benefits hearing, the contact with you and your attorney should be more frequent and specifically scheduled.
Throughout the process of getting your financial settlement after becoming injured, there may be periods of time that you do not hear from your attorney. Although this can be unnerving, it is a normal part of the legal process.
Five things not to say to a lawyer (if you want them to take you..."The Judge is biased against me" Is it possible that the Judge is "biased" against you? ... "Everyone is out to get me" ... "It's the principle that counts" ... "I don't have the money to pay you" ... Waiting until after the fact.
They should be clear, thoughtful and relevant. Asking a lot of smart questions about the firm and your practice area also shows interest, and thus motivation. It also makes you look good by showing that you are intelligent, savvy and well-prepared.
Most of the time, being slow is just temporary since cases invariably become more active, associates get assigned additional files, and attorneys have enough work to meet their employment expectations. Lawyers can use the times they are slower for a number of purposes.
If your attorney is not experienced or efficient, they may have missed a deadline or made another mistake and aren't willing to confess their error. There could also be some bad news that is entirely outside of the attorney's control.
The bottom line is that this is generally one of those cases where “no news is good news” because it means your attorney is working on your case. The only time you should get concerned is if you need to speak to your attorney and you cannot get through nor have you received a return call.
Regrettably, even the most discerning clients can hire an attorney who simply will not call them back. It's frustrating. As a general rule, give your lawyer 1-2 days to return your non-urgent phone call; very often, your lawyer may be out of the office for a half-day, whole day, or longer if he/she is in court.
So if you're curious, use these five quick ways to research whether your lawyer is legit:State Bar Profile. Every lawyer who is licensed to practice law in your home state must be listed in your state bar association's directory. ... Google / Search Engines. ... Yelp. ... The Attorney's Own Website. ... Third-Party Rating Groups.
Signs of a Bad LawyerBad Communicators. Communication is normal to have questions about your case. ... Not Upfront and Honest About Billing. Your attorney needs to make money, and billing for their services is how they earn a living. ... Not Confident. ... Unprofessional. ... Not Empathetic or Compassionate to Your Needs. ... Disrespectful.
It's almost always advisable to tell your lawyer the whole truth about your case, even if you've committed a crime. Giving your lawyer all the facts helps them craft the best defense by raising reasonable doubt. Even when a client admits guilt, there are usually many mitigating circumstances that can come into play.
Regrettably, even the most discerning clients can hire an attorney who simply will not call them back. It's frustrating. As a general rule, give your lawyer 1-2 days to return your non-urgent phone call; very often, your lawyer may be out of the office for a half-day, whole day, or longer if he/she is in court.
A: The lawyer should be responsive to your questions within 24-48 hours after you left a message. If the lawyer is not responsive, perhaps he or she is on vacation and unable to return.
If your lawyer still does not respond, you can send him or her a letter explaining the communication problems. If at this point you do not hear anything from your lawyer, you should consult with a legal malpractice attorney.
If your lawyer does not return your call, send them a letter and keep a copy. In the letter, describe what is bothering you and what you need. Suggest meeting with the lawyer face-to-face.
As a general rule, you will hear from your attorney often at the beginning of your case as your attorney will need to gather relevant facts and information from you in order to develop a defense. After that, however, there is usually a lull in the case during the “discovery” stage.
Telephone calls and e-mails should not go unanswered for days, assuming you are not contacting your attorney on a daily basis.
Because every attorney, and every law firm, develops their own set of procedures and methods, particularly where the attorney-client relationship is concerned, there is no universal answer that applies to that question – or to any other similar questions.
If you have recently been charged with a criminal offense and have retained the services of a criminal defense attorney for the first time you may have a number of questions and concerns about your case specifically, but also about the attorney-client relationship as well. Unless you have needed the services of an attorney before there is no reason ...
Some of the reasons why you may want to speak to a lawyer include: 1. You Want to Get the Facts. A licensed lawyer that practices in the area of law in which you have questions can tell you about the applicable laws that apply to your case . Looking for information online may yield inaccurate or outdated information.
While you may not always anticipate possibly needing a lawyer, it is often better to retain legal services before a possible crisis or major event occurs such as: • Pleading to a criminal charge. • Opening a business or forming a business. • Signing a contract such as a promissory note, lease or employment contract.
Selecting a Lawyer. 1. A lawyer that primarily practices in the area of law that is the subject of your legal issue. 2. A lawyer who treats you with respect, listens to you and addresses your concerns. 3. A lawyer who explains the options available to you and the pros and cons of each one. 4.
3. A lawyer who explains the options available to you and the pros and cons of each one. 4. A lawyer whom you trust.
A lawyer who makes a guarantee. No lawyer can absolutely ensure that he or she will win the case. 2. A lawyer with ethical issues. Avoid those who have had problems in the past in maintaining client confidentiality, representing clients when there was an apparent conflict of interest or managing client funds.
Many lawyers focus on a limited number of areas of the law to ensure that they have a working knowledge of the subject. 4. A lawyer who does not give you the attention you deserve, avoids phone calls and does not provide copies of requested information.
Some people are hesitant to seek legal information and advice because they do not want to have to pay for these services. However, what you gain often far outweighs the cost of seeking such services. Many times, a lawyer can provide the following information and benefits: • Current laws that apply to your case.
A good lawyer works with you, helps you understand the situation, and guides you to the best possible result. To do that, they need a client they can work with. Here's how to be just that. Advertisement.
It's not that your experiences don't matter , but some things that you may think are critical ("The cop didn't read me my rights before he cuffed me!") just aren't important to a court (in some situations, they're not required to). Mention those types of things once, and then continue to the next point.
Your lawyer is still a human being, and they need to experience the events you're describing or your situation as close to how they happened as possible. Jumping forward and back in time or going off on tangents is confusing, and may lead to an important detail being overlooked.
Lawyer communication, competency, ethics, and fees are important aspects of an attorney-client relationship. As a summary you can expect your lawyer to do the following: 1 Give you advice about your legal situation 2 Keep you informed about your case 3 Tell you what he or she thinks will happen in your case 4 Allow you to make the important decisions regarding your case 5 Give you an estimate about what your case should cost 6 Assist you in any cost-benefit analyses that you may need 7 Keep in communication with you 8 Inform you of any changes, delays or setbacks 9 Give you the information you need to make good decisions, and 10 Prepare you for your case, including deposition and trial preparation.
Fees. Disputes regarding attorneys' fees are perhaps the most common problem that clients have with their lawyers. Fee disputes typically arise for many reasons, but the following are the most common: Complaints about bills being too high. Disagreements over what kinds of fees would be charged to the client.
Lawyer communication refers to the correspondence and communication between a client and his/her attorney. If you have a lawyer communication problem, you may be wondering if you have a bad attorney or if he or she is doing a poor job on your case. You should know that many states have laws regarding when and how a lawyer must communicate with clients.
If your attorney does not respond within a business day, he or she should provide you with a reason why they were unable to answer your question (typically, if your lawyer is working on multiple cases, he or she may be tied down in court on some days).
Billing at an attorney's rate for work done by a paralegal or legal secretary. Complaints regarding over-charging for time spent on a case. The first thing that you should do upon finding and hiring the right lawyer for your case is to make sure that you get the fee agreement in writing that you can understand.
In addition to lawyer communication problems, you may also have problems with the competency of your lawyer's work. Competency relates to the core knowledge and expertise of an attorney in handling a client's legal issue. You should remember that lawyers are not machines and they are just as capable of making a mistake as anyone else ...
1. Ask your lawyer how he or she communicates. Each lawyer is different. Some might prefer to communicate by email. Others may communicate by telephone. At your first meeting with the lawyer, you should discuss how you will communicate. Try not to demand that the lawyer use your preferred method of communication.
You should ask your lawyer if he or she has any expectations for how you will communicate. For example, the lawyer will probably want you to respond to requests for information in a prompt manner. Also your lawyer will probably want you to notify them of any changes in your situation.
If you feel communication has broken down, address your own shortcomings. For example, you might not get requested information to your lawyer until right before a deadline. This makes it very difficult for a lawyer to represent you. Think about why you are struggling to communicate with your lawyer.
If you don’t, then you won’t know what information to tell your attorney. Take notes if you talk to your lawyer in person or over the telephone. Store your notes in the same place. For example, you might want to keep a special notebook for your case. Always review your notes before contacting your attorney.
1. Organize your thinking. At your first meeting , you need to give your lawyer the background of your dispute. Your lawyer will need to know the “who, what, where, when, how, and why.”. You should spend time trying to get this information organized so that you can share it in a clear way.
Stay informed about your case. You can communicate clearly only when you understand the status of your lawsuit. For this reason, you should commit to staying informed about your case. Try to understand the legal issues in dispute and the important facts.
You should address problems head-on with your lawyer. Remember, you hired them. If you are having a hard time communicating with your lawyer, then you should schedule an appointment to talk about it. Of course, scheduling a meeting can be difficult if your lawyer never returns your calls.
Learn how to present yourself as a lawyer. People judge lawyers by how well they look, whether in person or online. They also believe a lawyer for their appearance using visual cues. The way we dress shows our values. Our style should express who we want to be. That means wearing suits, not hoodies and jeans.
There are several ways to improve your ability to speak like a lawyer. Here are some tips:
Lawyers should never forget that being persuasive and convincing is an art form. With that said, here are some helpful tips on how to improve your speech skills:
A lawyer’s first responsibility is to her client, and a second is to society. A third is to herself. The organization has granted her license to practice, and she owes it to himself to conduct himself with honor and dignity. As a bar member, he represents public justice equally with private justice. He serves the law but himself alone.
You should: follow through on what you agree to do. prepare a written summary and chronology of events. tell your lawyer everything. understand that your lawyer has a duty to keep whatever you say confidential. inform your lawyer of new developments. respect your lawyer's time and schedule.
When you initially retain counsel, your lawyer should: explain the options available in your legal matter. discuss strategy.
Bar associations tasked with monitoring attorneys go after lawyers who steal or violate specific ethical rules—not lawyers who just aren't very good. Part of the reason is that what constitutes a "good job" is somewhat relative. For instance, a client might expect an acquittal in a criminal case.
Communication problems create problems in all types of relationships—including between an attorney and client. If you don't know what's going on in your lawsuit, you might assume you have a bad lawyer. To the contrary, your attorney could be doing a great job. Either way, a lawyer who doesn't communicate case progress is invariably increasing, not decreasing, your stress.
When you hire a lawyer, it's important that your fee agreement is in writing and that you understand it. It's a simple way to avoid a common cause of contention with clients—the legal bills.
For instance, it's common to hear less frequently from a lawyer who is in trial. But someone in the office should be able to explain when you'll hear from your attorney and assure you that the office is handling your case appropriately. Find out how to hire the right attorney.
For instance, a client might expect an acquittal in a criminal case. However, other private criminal attorneys might consider a reduction from a felony to a misdemeanor charge a job well done.
Most people hired attorneys because they don't want to sit in court. Well, truth be told, neither do I. The difference between lawyer and client is that the lawyer expects it to take a long time and understands. The client typically thinks it's unjustified. So, your hard truth is that each case takes time. Be patient.
Tell the Truth. If your lawyer doubts you in the consultation, or doesn't think you have a case, while that may change over time, getting over an initial disbelief is very hard. You have to prove your case. Your attorney is not your witness. They are your advocate - but you are responsible for coming up with proof.
If the judge can see your boobs, he's not listening to your story. If I can see your boobs, then I know you didn't care enough about yourself to talk to an attorney. Dress like you are going to church. Credibility is one of the most important things in this world - and most important in a courtroom.
If you don't pay your lawyer on the day of trial, or however you have agreed to, then while he or she may be obligated by other ethical duties to do his/her best, they won't be motivated by sympathy for you, and it will show in court.
While lawyers can certainly take your money and your time and we can file a case that will be very hard to win, if you don't care enough about your life to get a contract, the judge is not very likely to be on your side. At least, not automatically. Oral contracts are extremely hard to prove. What are the terms.
Don' t forget that lawyers don't always need to take more cases. Yes, new clients are a great thing, but I don't want clients that will eat all my time and get no where fast. Your tip: keep your communication very simple and to the point.
While juries usually get it right, sometimes, it's not about whether a particular matter is emotional or simple, complicated or straightforward. Sometimes people make decisions on who has the nicer suit, or who is more pleasant to deal with. So even if your case is good or even if it's not so strong.