The Conversation To Have With Your Attorney
Whether we like it or not there may come a time when we are all going to have to engage an attorney at one point. In case you might not know what to say or how to start a conversation, here are some important things to talk about which may prove beneficial.
Sometimes clients get frustrated because they don’t understand the process that goes into starting a case and actually finishing their case. I think to a certain extent this is due to miscommunication. Miscommunication, due to misunderstandings arising from the words and phrases which Attorneys use.
Largely because you want to open that file and charge for consultation. But isn’t it better to charge when your client fully understands how you operate and why you charge the way you charge? For the Client, isn’t it better that you pay for a service that you fully comprehend?
Correct me if im wrong.
Below are top 5 conversations that I think you should be having with your Attorney.
1.Billing
It’s very important to understand how your Attorney is going to be charging you going forward. I assume you went to an Attorney knowing full well and understanding that the service he or she renders to you will be paid for in full. Best to ask him or her how much they charge for starters per hour, why they charge that much. Some law firms who have more than one Attorney working in the law firm will vary on their fees according to the number of experience each Attorney has. So don’t go there asking for a Partner of a law firm to be doing your case when you cannot afford him or her.
2. Services
You should ask your Attorney what services they provide. So that when you tell them your case they can be able to help you. No use going to a commercial Attorney to do a civil litigation case for you, unless of course they pride themselves in doing both. If its an insurance dispute your looking for simply ask them if they deal with insurance matters. If the answer is yes then you shoot straight to the point. It will also help you save time in case they don’t offer free consultation.
3.Payment method
Some law firms accept cash only upon consultation. For some, its pay as the service is being delivered to you. Some for example, generally ask for a certain amount to be deposited into what is called their Trust Account. This is an account which they keep money in trust for you. They keep it safely for you and they charge your Trust Account balance. Some even accept payment in the form of installments. So best you ask this question, then looking at your financial position decide if you’l be able to pay their fees. If the answer is yes, you think you can afford them, then by all means go ahead and get yourself an Attorney. I’ve heard of some clients who don’t pay a cent towards their Attorneys fees, and end up with more debt than they started with. Friendly advice, this is how to avoid such.
4.Letter of Engagement
This is a document which will stipulate that you choose A to be your Attorney and to represent you in all matters incidental thereto. Such a document is called a Power of Attorney. This is a document that your Attorney will present to court to indicate that he or she is the one who will be handling your case. Make sure you read this document so that you understand what your Attorney can and cannot do for you. And for some of you who have just signed this document without any further information as to what it implies, well now you know. But in future please don’t sign anything which you have not read and / or which has not been explained to you. Refer to Read before you sign article.
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