In an initial consultation with an attorney, you should get the chance to thoroughly go over the facts of your case The lawyer should ask you questions to help understand the factual and legal issues. You may also want to ask the attorney the following: What are the strengths and weaknesses of my case?
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Apr 09, 2015 · Ask follow-up questions, such as where and when any similar cases went to trial and their results, to ensure the attorney really knows the subject matter. Two: Do you practice in the courthouse where my case is (or will be)?
For example, in a custody, divorce, criminal, or civil case, your lawyer might not be fighting properly. It might be a sign of incompetence or even a conflict of interest in your client attorney relationship. If you believe that my lawyer is not fighting for me, it may be due to the lawyer's style and mannerisms.
You’ll also obviously want to know if you can afford the lawyer. 7. How Would You Represent Me? In short, you’re asking the lawyer how he or she would win your case. This defines for you the kind of attorney you want on your side. Some cases are very simple and straightforward. Others can get pretty cutthroat.
In an initial consultation with an attorney, you should get the chance to thoroughly go over the facts of your case The lawyer should ask you questions to help understand the factual and legal issues. You may also want to ask the attorney the following: What are the strengths and weaknesses of my case? An attorney familiar with your area of law should be able to the …
Every lawyer should review with their clients the possibility of a negotiated resolution prior to trial. In criminal matters, for example, you may be able to get a good plea bargain. In civil cases, your lawyer might propose mediation, a settlement negotiation process involving a neutral third-party.
Lawyers should outline the possible ways to handle a case and then explain why they have chosen a particular strategy, including the pros and cons.
Getting a lawyer with the right legal background is essential, but it is also important to know whether your attorney has experience with the judges who will likely preside over your case. If yours is a criminal matter, it is important to know if your lawyer knows the local prosecutors. This courtroom experience can greatly enhance your lawyer’s ability to evaluate the likely outcomes in your case and give you advice that you can rely on.
Choosing the right lawyer is a very important decision—whether you were in a car accident, have a medical malpractice claim, or find yourself the target of a criminal investigation. Referrals from friends or co-workers can be great, but you need to do your homework to make sure you have the right attorney for the job.
In discussing case strategy, your lawyer should give you an estimate of how much time it will take to get to a resolution. Keep in mind that your lawyer does not control the pace of the process and cannot make any promises about when it will be over.
If the lawyer’s representation of prior or existing clients would limit the attorney’s ability to represent you, there is likely a conflict. For example, if you want to sue a hospital that the potential lawyer regularly represents, there would be a conflict. A conflict might also arise if the attorney you are interviewing has already been hired by ...
You should feel comfortable from the beginning of your attorney-client relationship that you will be able to have regular communications with your counsel. Make sure that you exchange contact information and agree on the ways that you will stay in touch.
Case in point: Your first meeting with a new client. There will never be a better or more important time to ask all sorts of questions. At this meeting, it should be your No. 1 priority to launch what you hope will be a long, productive relationship to achieve the best lawyer-client relations, by learning all you can upfront.
In Colorado, where I live, 632 people just passed the 2014 state bar exam. That brings us to a total of 21,726 active lawyers here. And this is one of those big square empty states. Just imagine how many lawyers a client can choose from in other places.
The answer to this will tell you so much about the person you are dealing with, as well as the dynamics you should expect. If the answer is something like “that your services will be too expensive,” or “that I don’t know what this is going to cost,” you’ve been put on notice to over-communicate about money.
If this is his first time, you will know to be gentle. More than that, you will know that you must guide this client through the experience, to serve as the host or narrator so it’s always clear what is going on.
Depending on the focus of your practice, one-size-fits-all communication with your clients may not be a good idea. If you have any room at all for flexibility, it will improve the experience for clients and you if you can tailor how you communicate to meet the client’s needs and preferences. (Give it a good hard think.
However, if a client tells you that they chose your law firm because you came highly recommended then you know that quality is a high priority to the client. The answer to this question can also give you insight into what a client is expecting. For example, if the client says they were impressed by your guarantee of fast communication then you know ...
Understanding why a client chose your law firm over a competitor is important because it helps you understand the client’s motivation. If they tell you that your firm was chosen because you’re cheaper, you know that funding their legal needs is a primary issue. However, if a client tells you that they chose your law firm because you came highly ...
Creating a strong lawyer/client relationship is about timely delivery and stellar service, but it’s also about understanding your client and their needs and never making assumptions. Creating a strong lawyer/client relationship is about timely delivery and stellar service, but it’s also about understanding your client and their needs ...
Before you wonder why this one’s asked when it sounds so much like the previous one, know this: there are two different types of clients…. Business and individual. If you’re just an individual looking for representation, you’re going to want a lawyer that works specifically with individuals and not businesses.
Consultations with a lawyer are an important stage of the process: you’re meeting up with an attorney for the first time on a case that could have a significant impact on you and your loved ones. You’ll want to make sure you’re dealing with a true professional. If not, you move on. That’s the point of the consultation.
In the legal industry, there a variety of processes moving forward. Sometimes an arbitrator would be suitable. You can arrange things out of court without the need for an attorney, too. And the reason for asking is that you might have considerably less cost to worry about. 9.
In many areas of law, all lawyers will charge a similar percentage of your winnings for their attorney fees. That said, why not go with someone who has experience with your specific type of case?
An attorney should also be able to identify obvious issues and common problems that may arise. He or she should make you aware of any risks or hurdles that you are likely to face in pursuing your case.
Who else will be working on the case? An attorney may utilize a paralegal for routine tasks and follow-ups. If you will be dealing frequently with someone else, ask to meet that person. An attorney in a large practice may use associates. Associates are less experienced attorneys that work under the main attorney, who directs and supervises their work. You should ask if the attorney you meet with will be working directly on your case.
Expenses are the hard costs that the attorney spends in the case that are usually billed back to the client. Examples of some expenses include court filing fees, fees for records, depositions fees or expert witness fess. Typically, a client is responsible for both fees and expenses.
A good attorney will rarely predict the outcome of your case because many variables may affect the end result. He or she should be able to tell you the outcomes of similar cases, however. A good attorney will usually not promise you a specific outcome, especially in a personal injury or criminal defense situation.
It's also important to ask clients what options they've already tried. This way, you know which new solutions you can introduce or how you can improve upon the solutions they've already considered.
Another tip for speaking with clients is to make an effort to build a relationship with each client. You can connect with the person you're speaking to by opening your conversation with a warm greeting and speaking in a friendly manner. This can help you keep fostering a relationship with your client.
Consulting questions are questions you can ask prospective clients during a consultant interview. Asking the right consulting questions can help you learn more about the client and determine how you can serve them. Consulting questions cover topics like the client's customers, challenges and goals to help you understand their situation and propose a course of action.
It's also essential to ask clients what outcomes they expect from a project, as achieving these outcomes is important to client satisfaction . Try to understand your client's outcomes in specific terms, including any key numbers or deadlines you should know.
You can ask questions about your client's challenges, goals, customers and other topics to help you get the information you need to develop a strategy.
Asking this question can help you pinpoint exactly what the client wants to get out of your relationship. This can help you set goals and expectations for your work with the client.
This information is important to help you develop a strategy that works for your client and make customer-centric decisions.
Questions can be broken down according to two criteria, namely, questions that clarify perceptions of the current situation and questions that clarify perceptions of the future vision. Asking your client these questions will enhance your ability to better serve them and their goals.
You may need to help your client be specific in their responses, which will give you both something concrete to work with as things move forward. The more specific a client can be about a wish or desire, the easier it is to plan to achieve it.
Listening is crucial to building the client-consultant relationship.
Listening is crucial to building the client-consultant relationship. But sometimes, clients aren’t great at expressing or explaining their own perspectives. They can use the assistance that comes from your effective, respectful questioning. The skillful use of questions is one of a consultant’s most important tools. Questions can: