Here are some tips on employing a good lawyer:
- What’s Involved In Your Case? You should get the overall picture, and what your role will be as the case proceeds. You also want to get an idea of how good a communicator your attorney is. Solicitors are advocates; if they cannot communicate transparently to you, they’ll likely not have the ability to do it in a courtroom.
- Shop Around. Get quotations from three or four professionals. You may be able to save yourself thousands in fees. Don’t choose a professional just because they have the lowest rates. Consider the overall, long term costs and how important the case is to you.
- Be Sure You Are Comparing Like With Like. When looking for a lawyer on the internet, compare apples with apples. It’s foolish to line up a young man fresh out of college against a senior partner in a firm that dates from early last century. Suit the man to his employment!
- Make Sure Your Attorney Knows that you will not pay anything that is not covered in advance by a signed and agreed-on estimate. If during the work new expenses arise, make sure that your attorney understands that you must pre-approve the expenditure or it’ll not be paid for by you.
- Demand A Written Estimate Of Fees, all disbursements and extras. They don’t usually get asked this sort of request. Make sure that the estimate contains an upper limit, an hourly rate and a schedule of chargeable items. Attorneys usually charge for telephone calls and photo-copies. Be sure and cover contingencies with him. What will it cost if the unexpected occurs? You will want to be aware before you get a large bill. Lawyers aren’t charities. They’re in this game to make a profit and only the simple-minded would begrudge them. It cost a lot to get them where they are, so they charge you for it
- Do Some Sums. Get out pen, paper and calculator. What’s the worst that could happen? Do you have enough cash to cover the solicitor’s expenses if you lose? You should ask yourself if you truly require a solicitor. Do you really need to start proceedings? A lengthy court case can hang like a sword of Damocles over your head.
- Learn How To Fire Him. A contract can state that even if you fire an attorney, he can still be entitled to a fat cut of any future settlement or payout you may receive on your case. Make sure you know how to sack your solicitor, ideally before you hire him!
- Ask What May Be Expected As A Retainer. If you like a particular solicitor feel free to negotiate over fees. A solicitor likes to charge by the hour, but often rates can be negotiated. There are too many lawyers with too few clients today. You can get a better deal.
I hope these few handy tips will be of some use to you in employing a capable lawyer.
About the author: Nicky Svengali is an author for lawyer and personal loans UK internet sites in London.