You’ve finally decided to hire an attorney. You know you need one to move your business forward, but you’re unsure what to do next. Or maybe you’ve hired an attorney on previous occasions but feel as if the last one didn’t accomplish much for you. Either way, working effectively with your lawyer is critical. So here are some key tips on working efficiently and avoiding headaches with your attorney going forward.
Share All the Facts of Your Case
If you’re working with a car accident lawyer, it’s important to be honest and forthcoming about all the facts of your case. This is especially true if you’re being sued for something. In addition, if any mitigating circumstances could affect the outcome of your case, it’s important to let your lawyer know about them right away.
If they are not aware of them from the start and it comes out later on, it may be too late to use some facts or details to sustain your case during settlement negotiations or in court. In addition, if any witnesses can help support your claim or defense, it is best to tell the lawyer about them as soon as possible so they can prepare the case and even a trial.
Bring Documents That Are Relevant to Your Case
Bringing relevant documents will help your lawyer better understand what happened and why it happened. If possible, bring hard copies rather than digital copies to be studied in more detail.
Bring any contracts or agreements you have signed, emails or text messages related to the subject matter of the case, and any other relevant paperwork such as medical bills or receipts for expenses incurred during the period in question.
Know What You Might Need To Pay For
Do some research about what’s involved in your case before discussing fees with your lawyer. For example, if you’re being sued by someone who claims that you owe them money, it’s important to know whether they’re suing based on a written contract or an oral agreement. Similarly, suppose you are suing someone for damages or injuries. In that case, you must know about additional costs related to your case, such as the cost of expert witnesses, accident reconstruction specialists, medical experts, etc.
That way, you can ask specific questions about the type and monetary size of the claim to accurately estimate what it might entail from a financial point of view. Some other examples of what you can expect to pay to include:
• Fees for medical records or police reports
• Fees for subpoenas for documents or witnesses
• Fees for expert testimony
• Fees for court appearances and depositions
• Costs of filing documents with the court (such as filings fees and service fees)
Ask Questions During the Meeting
Do not be afraid to ask questions during the meeting. Your lawyer will appreciate your interest in learning more about their background and experience. You can also ask them about some of the cases they handled and their strategies. This will help you understand how well they can handle your case and how much time it might take for them to finish everything up.
Keep Track of the Bill
If your lawyer charges by the hour, they should provide you with an estimate of how many hours it will take to complete your case. This way, you know exactly what the final bill will be when it comes time for payment. Likewise, if your retainer fee covers only certain types of work, ask what other types of work are not covered in this fee so that there aren’t any surprises when it comes time to pay. Finally, if your lawyer works on contingency and practices the no-win-no-fee strategy, you should know it in full detail.
Follow Directions and Respect Deadlines
Your lawyer will give you instructions about what you need to do for the case. Follow those instructions exactly as written. If you or your lawyer has questions about what needs to be done next, talk about them so there isn’t any confusion about how things should progress. It’s also important to respect your lawyer’s time by being on time for meetings, phone calls, and depositions.
Communicate Regularly With Your Lawyer
Communication is key to any successful business relationship. The same is true when working with an attorney. If you want to ensure that your lawyer is working on your case effectively, you need to communicate with them regularly.
Bottom Line
There are many aspects of a good attorney-client relationship, and efficiency is a major factor. If you work with your attorney efficiently, there should be fewer miscommunications and less time spent correcting mistakes on documents.
Irma C. Dengler
With a BA in communications and paralegal experience, Irma C. Dengler decided to make the best of her writing skills. She decided to turn complicated legal matters into something more palatable for the masses. Therefore, Irma became a law communicator who writes about everyday problems so everyone can understand them and take the appropriate action. She specialized in personal injury cases, as they are more common than anyone thinks, but her areas of expertise also include civil law, criminal law, insurance-related issues, and more.
