i have to call a lawyer what do i say

Just say, “I want to talk to a lawyer.” The police should stop questioning you as soon as you ask for a lawyer. You don't have to say anything else.

Full Answer

How to contact an attorney for the first time?

Jun 18, 2014 · Once you've found a lawyer you're comfortable working with, lay all your cards on the table. Rule number one, says Unrath, is to be honest and truthful. Your conversations with them are legally ...

How do you contact a lawyer?

Jan 27, 2012 · The information is then passed along to a lawyer and that lawyer will call the young person back within 2 business days, or 48 hours. For example, if someone called on Friday at lunch time, they can expect a call back no later than Tuesday at lunch.

How to check if someone really is a lawyer?

Feb 06, 2020 · Lawyers often need to see documents to understand your case. For example, if you are calling about an inheritance problem, the lawyer will probably need to see a copy of the decedent’s will or trust. Prepare your documents by scanning them so you have an electronic version that can easily be emailed to the law firm.

How to talk to a lawyer on the phone?

You should address a lawyer the way you would address anyone else. Having a law degree doesn’t entitle you to special treatment. If your lawyer’s name is Mike Smith, you call him Mike or Mr. Smith. People who call me “counselor” or occasionally use the British terms of solicitor or barrister are, in my humble opinion, putting on airs.

What is the job of a lawyer?

A lawyer’s job is to analyze whether you have legal claims and what your potential courses of legal action might be. Often times when you contact a law firm, you are very emotional, and you want to share every detail of the situation with the attorney because you want the attorney to understand everything you have been though. If you provide too much information right away, the attorney may not be able to properly analyze your legal claim.

What do lawyers do?

They attend court hearings, depositions, mediations, conferences and client meetings, and they draft all kinds of briefs, pleadings and agreements . Chances are, when you contact a law firm, you will initially speak with the legal support staff, such as a paralegal or legal assistant. The legal support staff is there to help you by taking your information and communicating that information to the attorneys.

What is legal advice?

Legal advice is the giving of a formal opinion regarding the law in relation to a particular factual situation. Giving legal advice often involves analyzing a set of facts and advising a person to take a specific course of action based on the applicable law.

Why do people go to law firms?

Most attorneys go into the legal profession because they genuinely want to help people. Being involved in a lawsuit is almost guaranteed to be a stressful experience. A good lawyer will be there to guide you and help you achieve the best result possible.

Do law firms receive calls?

Most law firms receive a high volume of calls every day from people who are seeking legal advice and/or legal representation. These things will help you in making the initial contact with a law firm:

Do lawyers need to see a will?

Lawyers often need to see documents to understand your case. For example, if you are calling about an inheritance problem, the lawyer will probably need to see a copy of the decedent’s will or trust. Prepare your documents by scanning them so you have an electronic version that can easily be emailed to the law firm.

Can an attorney give legal advice?

Attorneys generally cannot give you legal advice without fully analyzing the facts of your situation, which takes time. Most attorneys are very busy and will not have time to respond to every question they receive.

How to address a lawyer?

You should address a lawyer the way you would address anyone else. Having a law degree doesn’t entitle you to special treatment. If your lawyer’s name is Mike Smith, you call him Mike or Mr. Smith. People who call me “counselor” or occasionally use the British terms of solicitor or barrister are, in my humble opinion, putting on airs. They are giving me faux respect. If they really respected me, they’d use my name.

Where to put return address on lawyer?

Put the address of the intended recipient on the center of the lawyer, then put your return address on the upper left hand corner of the lawyer. Finally, attach sufficient postage to the lawyer’s upper right corner.

How many hours does it take to become a lawyer?

It is worth remembering that to become a lawyer in the US requires 88 or more semester hours after a Bachelor’s degree (at the Doctoral level). A PhD requires 77 semester hours. But we see people constantly kow-towing to PhD’s with Doctor flowing like one of the great rivers, but lawyers are not similarly greeted.

What is counsel in a relationship?

It depends on the context and what the relationship is. If you're looking for counsel, it's merely about catching on social cues and how relaxed the person is.

Who is the Q.C. in the law?

Barristers who have “taken silk” are addressed as “John/Jane A. Smith, Q.C.” followed by “Barrister”. (“Q. C. “ is the abbreviation of “Queen’s Counsel “. Solicitors do no

Who can address each other as "colleagues"?

Lawyers (this includes attorneys, prosecutors, judges) may also address each other as “Colleagues”: “Herr Kollege/Frau Kollegin”, but this is as far as any informalities go.

Who is the barrister who took silk?

Barristers who have “taken silk” are addressed as “John/Jane A. Smith, Q.C.” followed by “Barrister”. (“Q. C. “ is the abbreviation of “Queen’s Counsel “. Solicitors do not “take silk”.) When Elizabeth II is succeeded by a male sovereign, “K.C.” will abbreviate “King’s Counsel”.

Why do lawyers answer legal questions?

Answering legal questions is legal representation for which the lawyer could reasonably asked to paid, not only because of the time taken, but because of the risk of committing malpractice if the answers are wrong.

What to ask an attorney after preliminary discussion?

Most importantly, if you are interested in hiring that attorney after the preliminary discussion, ask the attorney for a copy of his written representation agreement, for you to read and potentially sign.

Why do attorneys delete emails without reading them?

Many attorneys routinely delete without reading email that lays out a person’s legal situation because of fear of learning information that would disqualify that attorney or his firm from continuing to represent one of its current clients or from representing another potential client. 2.

What are the rules of legal ethics?

Legal ethics rules require the attorney to check to see if representing you would conflict with any current or past legal representation that attorney or his firm has undertaken. That attorney should start the conversation with those screening questions.

Do attorneys charge flat fees?

In some kinds of representation, the attorney might charge a flat legal fee in lieu of charging for his time, but don’t assume that. Flat fees don’ t work in many situations.

Can an attorney accept a contingency fee?

Also, understand that, outside of personal injury or medical malpractice, it’s unusual for an attorney to accept a case on a contin gency fee, which is where the lawyer’s fee is solely a share of the money won in a case. If that’s what you’re looking for, be upfront so you don’t waste the attorney’s time and yours.

What to write in a conversation with an attorney?

In the course of your conversation with your attorney, you will surely want to write down notes on any issues or questions that arise. A list of questions. Clients often have a million questions and concerns before a meeting, one or more of which they then forget to ask when sitting face to face with their attorney.

How do lawyers bill their clients?

In the case of lawyers who charge hourly, some start out by charging a retainer, which is an initial up-front fee that they then bill against at an hourly rate until it runs out (at which point the assumption is usually that you'll be ready to pay more).

What to bring to a lawyer meeting?

What Should I Bring? 1 A pen and pad of paper or the electronic equivalent! In the course of your conversation with your attorney, you will surely want to write down notes on any issues or questions that arise. 2 A list of questions. Clients often have a million questions and concerns before a meeting, one or more of which they then forget to ask when sitting face to face with their attorney. Write these questions down ahead of time, to make sure you get every query answered while you're sitting there. 3 A check for the initial consultation fee, if your attorney charges one. This should be discussed ahead of the meeting. Nothing gets a lawyer-client relationship off on the wrong foot faster than forgetting to make your first payment. Presenting that fee immediately shows that you're taking the relationship seriously. 4 Any documents relevant to your case. If, for example, you are negotiating a lease and want the lawyer to review it, you should obviously bring a copy of the draft lease. If possible, make multiple copies of each document you give to your lawyer, so that you can take a set back home. (Or you can ask the lawyer's office to make the copies, but you'll likely be charged at premium rates for those.)

How to impress a lawyer?

The more prepared you are with completed questionnaires (if the lawyer sent you any ahead of time), documents, diagrams, and your own questions, the easier this process will be , and the more you will impress the lawyer.

Why is it important to meet with an attorney?

An initial meeting with your attorney is important, not just for exchanging information about your case, but also for building rapport and trust. Commonly, you will first have a short phone call with the lawyer, who will then ask to meet you in person.

What happens if you don't hire a lawyer?

Be honest. Remember that, even if you do not end up hiring the lawyer, everything you tell him or her during your meeting is generally subject to the attorney-client privilege. (The biggest exception to this, not surprisingly, is if you tell your lawyer that you are going to commit a crime, which information the lawyer may be duty-bound ...

Do you need to wear a suit to a business meeting?

Dress professionally. This does not necessarily mean you need to wear a suit, but you should wear the type of attire you would wear to any formal business meeting. This shows the attorney that you are a professional, and are taking your case seriously.

How to choose a lawyer?

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.

What does a lawyer do when you have questions?

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. A professional can provide current information based specifically in the geographic and practice area that applies to your case.

What does a lawyer do?

A lawyer can provide an objective set of information about the options available in your case along with the pros and cons of each option.

What is a lawyer who treats you with respect?

3. A lawyer who explains the options available to you and the pros and cons of each one. 4. A lawyer whom you trust.

What is a lawyer who makes a guarantee?

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.

Why do lawyers focus on a limited number of areas of the law?

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.

Why are people hesitant to seek legal advice?

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.