ADVICE FOR HIRING A LAWYER Whether you’re going through a divorce,
writing a will or launching a business, there are
many times in life when you may require the services of a lawyer. It could be that you
just need some legal advice or for someone to actually
represent you in court. Whatever your reasons, there are steps you can take to ensure that
interactions with your lawyer go smoothly and you
get the best service possible. Here’s how DO YOUR RESEARCH
Lawyers tend to specialize in certain areas of the law. Obviously you’re going to want
to hire a lawyer who has experience in a field that’s
relevant to your situation. After all, you shouldn’t
have to rely on an attorney who’s well-versed in divorce procedures but knows little about
corporate law if you’re trying to start a business.
Try asking friends and family if they can recommend anyone with whom they’ve had a
positive experience if they’ve been through a similar
scenario to yourself. You can also check with your
state and local bar associations, or groups who offer lawyer referral services.
Remember, you don’t have to settle for the first lawyer you meet. You should talk with
multiple attorneys before making a decision but beware
of any fees they might charge for an initial meeting.
In that first consultation, you need to be ready to describe your situation in a brief
and concise manner, especially if you’re being charged
for their time. and ask the lawyer about their experience, fees, the likely outcome of your
case, who will be working on your behalf and when
you can expect a resolution. CONFIRM YOUR PLAN OF ACTION
Once you’ve decided on an attorney, confirm with them that you both understand how things
are going to proceed. Make note of how often your
lawyer plans to update you, what information you need to provide them with, all of the
options available to you, and the total cost for their
services.
If at any point you don’t understand what your attorney is doing, ask them for a clear
explanation. You should be in full support of anything your lawyer does on your behalf,
so make sure you have discussed all the different
paths you can take in your case. Be open and honest
with your attorney so that they can offer you the best help.
You may want to keep a written record of any agreements you make. This is especially true
when it comes to any fees or charges they demand. These could include costs for things
like copying documents, courier services, court
filing fees, or research services. The bottom line is
to make sure you are notified and understand what exactly you are being charged for.
UNDERSTAND PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS Keep in mind that the most expensive lawyer
is not necessarily the best lawyer. You should always consider their experience as well as
their fees. There are certain ways in which you may be
able to cut down on costs too, either by suggesting a junior or paralegal work on your case or
by performing certain duties yourself such as
photocopying etc... YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING TERMS:
- CONTINGENCY FEES. These are fees you can negotiate with your lawyer that depend on
the outcome of your case and any money you may
receive. For instance, if you are awarded $20,000 and have negotiated a contingency
fee of 20%, you pay your lawyer $4000, because that’s 20% of $20,000. If you don’t win
any money, you don’t owe your lawyer anything. That
said, you still may be required to pay for additional charges such as court fees or hiring
expert witnesses.
Contingency fees are a potentially good option for people who have little money to pay for
a lawyer’s hourly rate. You can negotiate
a percentage based on the amount you receive, or the
circumstances of your case. For instance, it is likely that you will be able to negotiate
a lower contingency fee if your case is likely to
result in a quick settlement rather than going to court.
Your state may have rules about maximum contingency fees so be sure to check with your
state's bar association: - FLAT FEES. These are a fixed sum that an
attorney may charge for a particular service, usually if it’s something straightforward
such as writing a will. Make sure you confirm exactly
what the flat fee includes before agreeing to it.
- HOURLY RATES. These are self-explanatory, being the rates that a lawyer charges per
hour of his/her service. Hourly rates vary depending
on an attorney’s field of expertise and experience. Fees can add up quickly so ask
for an estimate of how many hours of work are
necessary to resolve your case.
- RETAINER. Essentially this is like a deposit which you pay up front but it can be used
by your lawyer as a down payment on fees and expenses.
Make sure you review your account regularly if asked to pay a retainer, so that you know
how your money is being spent. - PUBLIC LEGAL SERVICES. Depending on your
financial situation, you might be eligible for
free or low cost legal assistance. It’s worth checking your local directory for organizations
or legal clinics associated with accredited law
schools if you think this may be the case for you.
- PRE-PAID LEGAL PLANS. These plans work in a similar way to insurance, in that you pay
a monthly fee to be covered by an organization
for certain legal services should you need them.
Fees and the services covered vary with each state's law and the particular plan, so check
any prepaid plans carefully.
BE ORGANIZED It is important to keep copies of any original
documents you give to your lawyer. You should also ask for copies of any other important
documents that relate to your case. Review your bills
carefully and ask about any charges you do not understand.
CLASS ACTIONS Class action lawsuits take place when a court
deems that a group of people may have been wronged in some way. If you receive a notice
asking whether you want to be part of the lawsuit,
read it carefully. If you do not respond then you become a member of the class by default.
When you are part of the class, you are bound by the outcome and cannot bring your own
separate case. However, if you opt out then you are able to bring your own case, though
you’ll of course have to hire your own lawyer and
you will not be entitled to share in any benefits that
may be won in the class action lawsuit. HOW TO COMPLAIN
If you are unhappy with your lawyer’s performance, you can fire them at any point in time,
though some cases may require a judge’s permission to do so. Consider any potential
delays to your case and the costs of getting a new lawyer
before making any final decisions though. Should you believe you’ve been treated unfairly,
either your lawyer didn’t represent you adequately, or charged you too much, try to
work out a resolution with them directly first. If this
is unsuccessful, consider filing a complaint with your state or local bar association.
On the other hand, if you wish to praise the services of
your lawyer then be sure to do that too! If you found this video helpful, don’t forget
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