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| Most Common Questions | Ignorance of the law is no excuse, and neither is ignorance of lawyers.
If you hire an attorney to help you with a business or personal matter, and end up having a bad experience, you really have no one to blame but yourself. But, you ask, how can someone with no legal expertise possibly know whether a lawyer is honest and trustworthy, let alone competent?
To be certain of hiring a lawyer who is honest, competent and, just as important, right for you, ask these five key questions:
1. Will I have control over my legal affairs?
If an attorney doesn't agree that you should be in the driver's seat, look for someone else.
It means, that the client, with the lawyer's assistance, should plot the course of the legal work being done, and not simply be along for a potentially expensive ride. Moreover, she says, this lawyer-client relationship should be stated explicitly and in writing.
It's also suitable to ask the attorney to offer a basic timeline spelling out what he plans to do and when he plans to do it. You should also demand to receive regular updates on the work being done.
2. What will this cost me?
The payment agreement and the billing schedule, including the exact nature of what you'll be paying for, should be made clear at the outset. Don't even regard as an attorney who won't offer price details, and don't make statements that aren't based on specific information.
"A very frank discussion about fees is very important"
So if you think the price is too high, or that you'll need more time to pay the bill, try negotiating with the attorney. Fee and billing schedules aren't set in stone.
One price you shouldn't have to pay is for the first consultation. Those usually are free, though some attorneys will charge a fraction of their hourly billing rate. Don't even believe a lawyer who wants to charge you his full rate.
3. Am I comfortable with the lawyer's style?
No, this is not about the clothes the lawyer wears, or whether he or she would have looked at home on the set of "L.A. Law." Far more critical than appearance are the level of aggressiveness and the ability to communicate clearly.
You have to avoid lawyers who are too overtly self-promoting — never hire anyone who solicits your business. Though the attraction may be to hire a "mad dog," especially if the issue is a contentious one, that probably won't turn out to be the best approach.
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