should the lawyer know a estimate how much u could win in your lawsuit

Ask your lawyer for an estimate of legal fees, and do the math. It may be cheaper to settle. Get legal advice from an attorney you trust and consider the amount of money you could win compared to the amount you'd get in a settlement.

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How do I find out how much a lawyer cost?

May 19, 2010 · The answer is that the lawyer wants to know what the damages are. It is the extent of the damages that determines the value of the case. During the course of your first phone call or meeting with the lawyer, the lawyer is doing a …

Do you have to pay legal fees if you win a case?

To obtain a civil lawsuit settlement amount, a plaintiff’s attorney must calculate the exact expenses and losses involved. While it is possible to make estimates based on past costs, calculating pain and suffering compensations can be more difficult. This is where a lawsuit lawyer can be of help. The amount of a civil lawsuit settlement varies.

What happens if you win a civil suit?

May 15, 2020 · Lawsuits can be expensive, and recovering your attorneys' fees is often not an option. Ask your lawyer for an estimate of legal fees, and do the math. It may be cheaper to settle. Get legal advice from an attorney you trust and consider the amount of money you could win compared to the amount you'd get in a settlement. 6.

Should I settle my lawsuit or recover my attorney's fees?

How is a settlement amount calculated?

Why do lawyers take cases they can't win?

What should you not say to a lawyer?

How do you successfully win a lawsuit?

Is it normal to not hear from your lawyer?

How often should you talk to your lawyer?

How do I know if my lawyer is good?

Why do lawyers take so long to get back to you?

Why is my attorney not fighting for me?

How do you get a judge to rule in your favor?

How can a lawyer win a case in court?

How do you beat a judge?

Is it cheaper to settle a lawsuit?

Lawsuits can be expensive, and recovering your attorneys' fees is often not an option. Ask your lawyer for an estimate of legal fees, and do the math. It may be cheaper to settle. Get legal advice from an attorney you trust and consider the amount of money you could win compared to the amount you'd get in a settlement.

How does a lawsuit affect your life?

A lawsuit may take a lot of time and energy, and can be emotionally draining. Remember that you might find that you have less time and energy to devote to your work, business, family, and social life for the duration of the lawsuit. The case may involve completing demand letters and paperwork, filing at the clerk's office, waiting in court until your turn to speak, and following any of the judge's orders.

Can you sue someone from a different state?

If you are suing someone from a different state, a court in your state may not have power or "jurisdiction" over that person. In that case, you might have to sue the defendant in his or her location, which will probably be more expensive and inconvenient for you.

What is a small claims court?

Each state's court system has some variation of " small claims court " or "conciliation" court, which only hears disputes in which a certain dollar amount is at issue (usually $5,000 or less).

How can a dispute be resolved?

From car accidents and injuries to family-related issues to financial disputes, disputes can often be solved through communication and compromise. Not every dispute involves a legal cause of action.

How long do you have to pay a waiting time penalty?

For example, California law requires an employer to pay a "waiting time" penalty equal to 30 days of the employee's unpaid wages.

What is liquidated damages?

Or, instead of interest, you may be able to recover a sum called "liquidated damages.". (Under federal wage laws, liquidated damages are money amounts set in advance by law, awarded to employees in lieu of interest). If your employer acted "willfully," that is, ...

Is overtime a rate?

If you work overtime hours, you are entitled to pay at a higher rate than your regular hourly wage . In most cases, the overtime rate is "time-and-a-half" (150% of your regular rate). Under federal law, an employee who works more than 40 hours in a workweek is entitled to overtime pay for those hours. (Some states have their own overtime laws that offer additional rights; to learn more, select your state from Nolo's Wage and Hour Laws in Your State page.)

Can you recover unpaid wages?

If you're owed regular or overtime pay from your employer, you can recover the unpaid wages, interest on the unpaid amount, and, in some circumstances, penalties that the law requires the employer to pay.

What happens if an employer doesn't pay the minimum wage?

When an employer fails to pay an employee the applicable minimum wage or the agreed wage for all hours worked, the employee has a legal claim for damages against the employer. To recover the unpaid wages, the employee can either bring a lawsuit in court or file an administrative claim with the state's labor department.

Do employers have to pay minimum wage?

Employers must pay all employees at least minimum wage (for limited exceptions, see Nolo's article, When Must Employers Pay the Minimum Wage? ). Employees must be paid at least the federal minimum wage, or the state or local minimum wage, if either one is higher than the federal minimum wage. Of course, if an employer and employee agree on a rate that is higher than the minimum wage (typically in an employment contract or offer letter), the employer must pay that rate.

How many hours can you work in a week to get overtime?

Under federal law, an employee who works more than 40 hours in a workweek is entitled to overtime pay for those hours. (Some states have their own overtime laws that offer additional rights; to learn more, select your state from Nolo's Wage and Hour Laws in Your State page.)

Can a lawyer take your money?

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.

What to do if your lawyer doubts you?

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.

What happens if you don't pay your lawyer?

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.

Do juries get it right?

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.

What is the difference between a lawyer and a client?

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.

If you're dissatisfied with your lawyer, this article will help you determine whether your complaints are reasonable

If you're dissatisfied with your lawyer, this article will help you determine whether your complaints are reasonable.

Communication With Your Lawyer

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.

Your Right to Attorney Competence

It's a big shock to most people that there is no guarantee that your lawyer will do a good job. Bar associations tasked with monitoring attorneys go after lawyers who steal or violate specific ethical rules—not lawyers who just aren't very good.

Your Lawyer Should be Ethical

Each state has ethical laws that bind lawyers. Commonly, these rules require lawyers to:

You Should Understand the Legal Fees

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.

Do criminal lawyers charge by the hour?

Many criminal lawyers who charge by the hour will require a retainer fee. In addition to the hourly fees or flat-rate fee charged by a lawyer in a criminal case, the client often has to pay additional expenses, such as: Expert witness fees. Investigator hourly fees. Paralegal hourly fees.

What happens if you are not acquitted of a crime?

If you are found not guilty, or acquitted, of a charge, you may still require additional legal services to have the arrest and/or charges removed from your record. Most criminal lawyers charge similar fees to stay competitive, but certain cases are more complex and urgent, so you'll need to make a decision right away.

What is flat fee lawyer?

Flat fee: a lawyer may offer a flat fee for a specific, simple, and well-defined legal case. Examples of cases eligible for flat fee billing include uncontested divorces, bankruptcy filings, immigration, trademarks , patents, and wills. Before agreeing to a flat fee, make sure you understand what is covered in the agreement.

Do lawyers accept credit cards?

Most lawyers accept standard methods of payment, such as credit cards, debit cards, checks, and cash. Your lawyer might allow you to set up a payment plan toward the total cost. Before you sign an agreement with a lawyer, find out how often he or she requires payment.