- What percentage of your currently active cases are cases like mine? Less than 50% is fine, but I would be concerned at less than 30%.
- Do you return all client telephone calls the same day? within 24 hours? Ever?
- In what increments of time do you bill? 5 minutes? 10 minutes? 15 minutes? Does that mean a 30-second conversation will be billed at 10 minutes (at $300 an hour)?
- Do you bill for essentially clerical matters? For example: If I call to confirm a court time? Or for your own time spent reviewing billing? Or to simply forward a letter from someone else?
- Will I spend most of the time talking about my case with you? Your junior associate? Your paralegal? Your secretary? The temporary receptionist?
- Do you utilize your legal assistant whenever possible and bill at her lower rate? What are typical legal assistant assignments?
- Is there anything else about my case, your practice or you personally that I have not asked about (or do not even know to ask about) that you ought to tell me?
- Do you really love what you do? Forget the verbal answer. The body language and facial expression will tell you all you need to know (and my only regret is that I cannot be with you when you ask it).
Send to KindleSeveral years ago we conducted an informal poll asking people what kept them from using an attorney. The most common answer wasn’t cost, it was feeling insecure or uncomfortable in the presence of an attorney. The best way to counter any such feelings, maximize your time and be assured you’re working with the right person is to interview the attorney. Many people have no idea what to ask. Unless you’re in the business, how could you? Perhaps surprisingly, questions I would not ask are: Where did you go to law school? What was your class rank? How many times did you take the bar exam? I have known brilliant lawyers who would not do well on any of those questions, probably because they had a rebellious personality. Here, though, are some questions I would ask any attorney I was considering hiring:
1 Comment
11/6/2016 10:15:29 pm
Actually everything that you said here was true and should be done before hiring an attorney. Many of the things listed above is being neglected by many people that is resulting to them having a hard time of dealing with their chosen attorneys. It is very crucial on every clients part to get the right attorney because it can decide the faith of their cases. Follow these steps or questions listed above and you may get the right attorney for you and your case. Thank you for this very informative blog.
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