Being Smart
Being smart about your attorney is nothing more than putting in the time and effort required to choose the right one. Attorneys are trained to listen to the facts and prepare a convincing argument for court. If you hold back anything, then you could be tying your attorney’s hands without even realizing it. Be sure to find one you trust, and give him/her all the ammo that’s available.
One thing an attorney is NOT is a mind reader. They need to go into battle totally prepared. And that means knowing all the facts, even facts that are not brought up. Knowing what not to let come up can play just as much in winning a case as what IS brought up. You can’t hold back when it comes to attorneys and planning their strategies. And it is in your best interest, because after all, it’s YOUR can in the fire.
Whenever you decide to hire an attorney, whether it’s on a contingency basis or a flat rate or hourly rate, be sure that everything gets put down in writing. And leave nothing out when it comes to you and the attorneys whose help you seek. Things that pop up later, unexpectedly, are an attorney’s worst nightmare, and can be for you as well. They are trained to know what needs to be said, and what needs to be left alone in order to get the desired outcome. This is where the trust comes in; remember you are paying for it. Let him earn his money, but give him the best chance you can.
Also remember that your attorney needs to know ‘EVERYTHING’. Without the absolute truth you can not expect an absolute best defense. Remember that attorneys are being paid to be ‘on your side’. There are two sides to most any argument, and a good attorney can generally run with either side. So the more they know about the facts of their case, the better equipped they are to head off any blind-sides and control the outcome. Good ones are more than worth the money.
Lots of people go and hire attorneys and then just sit and wait to hear the results. That’s not a good strategy to take. It’s best to be involved, and if your attorney seems to not want you to be, then you should let that be a red flag. Always know what’s going on. If you attorney is too busy or seems bothered by your questions, find another one. You want your attorney to be as concerned as you are, and be attentive to your questions about anything and everything.
Being smart about your attorney means being smart about the entire act of litigation. Know for a surety that litigation means paying out money. And good help can be expensive for sure. And even if you spend a billion, there’s still the chance that you may lose. Then there’s the fact that if you could hire all the attorneys in town and win, you may still not be happy with the final decision. So be smart about going into litigation in the first place. And if you have no choice, be smart about how you build your relationship with your attorney.