Dealing With Attorneys
Dealing With Attorneys
Dealing with attorneys is something that most everyone will have to face sometime in their life. When it comes to talking with an attorney, be sure to be frank and to the point. Your discussion with them is the ground upon which you’ll build or break your relationship. Put everything out there and be up-front and that way the attorney has a fair chance to size up the situation and see if it’s win-able.
Be sure and talk fees from the start. This isn’t something that you want to come back and haunt you later. Make sure that you and your attorney are perfectly clear on what the fees and costs are going to be. Attorneys are people too; and just because they wear suits and talk to judges does not mean they are always on your side. This is not to color all of them that way; it’s just to make you aware that you need to have confidence in your attorney. This confidence comes from knowing about them.
There are many attorneys that require a ‘retainer’ before they do any actual work on a case. This is a ‘good faith’ deposit made by you. After that, the attorney may have you make monthly payments to see that things are going to go smoothly in the financial end of the agreement. Make sure that you’re open and honest about finances at all times, and that the attorney knows what’s going on in that department as far as any complications that may arise.
Sometimes, in the right situations, attorneys may take a case on a contingency basis. This is good if it happens, and it means that without any up-front money the attorney will try your case and take the fees from the judgment. This is usually a percentage of what they believe the case will produce. But for sure, you don’t want anything coming up to bite you later, so be certain about all terms before engaging in agreements.
Whenever possible, you should get your fee agreements in writing. Don’t ever let things be done verbally. Verbal agreements can’t be proven and can lead to more arbitration and more costs. Nail down any types of agreements with writing on paper and signatures. That way there is no chance of misunderstanding between you and your attorney, and everything will be there for anyone to read for themselves in plain English. Attorneys are people too, and many times communications can be understood, but once written down and signed, the deal is sealed.
Dealing with attorneys is not much different than dealing with contractors or salesman in many cases. Facts need to be presented and made plain and clear, and both parties need to trust one another and work together for the outcome they’re seeking. You need an attorney that you feel comfortable with, have confidence in, and that you believe will give you the best representation for your money. When it comes down to you and your money, or maybe even the dread of jail time, a good attorney is priceless. But a bad one isn’t worth the powder and lead. Make sure of your choice before you let them represent you in the court.