Questions to Ask Your Lawyer
When looking for a lawyer to handle a personal legal matter, you
can usually find one by contacting the local bar association or
an attorney referral service in your area. If those don't pan
out, try the state bar association or word-of-mouth
recommendations from satisfied friends, family members, or
coworkers. After getting the names of two or three attorneys
that specialize in the area for which you need assistance, make
an appointment to "interview" each lawyer before you decide
which one to retain as legal counsel. Some lawyers offer a free
30-minute consultation to discuss your case and see whether
client and attorney suit each other. Here are some questions you
may want to ask:
1. How long have you specialized in this type of law? If the
attorney has recently switched from probate to criminal law, and
you are accused of committing a crime, you may want to look for
a more experienced attorney. On the other hand, perhaps this
attorney has been assisting a partner with criminal cases, or
has done extensive work in this area previously. Find out if
there is enough evidence to warrant your trust in this
particular attorney for handling your case.
2. What are your fees? Never retain an attorney who is vague
about the cost of his or her services, or about the type of
expenses you may have to pay. While it is natural to be unsure
of an exact price for copying, telephone, and postage costs, the
attorney should be able to give you a ballpark figure, as well
as any potential costs for expert testimony, including
depositions, interrogatories, or videotaping sessions and travel
fees. Try to get an estimate in writing of at least the
attorney's fee. Many charge by the hour or by the procedure,
such as a $1,500 divorce. Others are required to collect a
portion, like one-third, of any awards made in personal injury
cases, for example.
3. What are the chances of success for my case? This will apply
to issues of litigation where you are suing someone in court.
You want to get a percentage, like 60 percent or 20 percent, of
what the outcome is likely to be. For other types of cases, such
as estate planning, you can change the question to relate to
matters involving your anticipated estate plan with applicable
taxes.
4. How often can I expect to hear from you? A competent
attorney should be in regular contact with a client to provide
status updates, even if there isn't much to report. A monthly
phone call, email, or letter will help to allay worries and
confirm hearing dates so that you don't get disconnected from
the legal process for months at a time.
5. What is the likely course of my case? Your attorney should
be able to give you a clear outline of what to expect. Some
types of cases might require a few meetings with the attorney.
Others might demand court appearances and deposition sessions.
Sketch a timeline of projected activity so you can plan
accordingly.
After comparing attorney responses to your questions, you may
be in a better position to choose the attorney who will work
most effectively to protect your interests.