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Stafford Law Office, LLC
714 West Kirkwood Avenue
P.O. Box 2358
Bloomington, Ind. 47402
Tel (812) 339-6055
Fax (812) 339-6877
info@cstaffordlaw.com |
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Hiring an Attorney
Interview multiple attorneys
- How long did it take you to talk to the actual attorney?
- How long before you could get in for an appointment?
- Did the office and attorney seem friendly and professional?
- Was the style casual or formal? And which do you prefer?
- Did you feel comfortable with the attorney?
- How much experience does the attorney have with your type of situation?
- Is the fee structure clear and up front?
- Does the attorney have malpractice insurance?
- Does the attorney seem to have time to devote to your case?
- Is the office in a convenient location for you?
Know the fee structure
- Ensure that you have a document that says how the attorney/client relationship will work, what the attorney fees are, and how they are calculated. These matters should be covered in an initial meeting.
- Ensure you know when you will be billed, and how detailed the statement will be.
- Review your monthly statements carefully; most attorneys are very careful and yet errors are easy to make. Bring any errors to the immediate attention of your attorney and chances are that the attorney will be happy to correct them and grateful for the opportunity to do so.
- It is always your right to know what your case is costing you and why. Never feel awkward about asking. You are spending a lot of money and you have every right to know how it is being spent.
Be straightforward about your goals and your concerns
- Don't worry about what your attorney will think of you.
- Nothing is silly, nothing is selfish, nothing is off limits for a question.
- Often, your questions and concerns can help focus the attorney's efforts, leading to lower attorney fees overall and a far better outcome for you.
- You are your own best advocate.
- You are the one who knows your situation best.
- If something seems off to you, ask about it.
- The more you are a full partner in your case, the lower your attorney fees will be and the better your outcome will be.
- Your attorney's job is to advise you on the legal strategy and actions necessary to accomplish your goals, to give the best AND worst case scenarios.
- Your job is to pick the course of action that best suits your goals once you have all the information necessary to make that decision.
- Of course, if you want to do something illegal or unethical, the attorney must advise against it. If you wish to continue that action, the attorney may have to withdraw and depending on the circumstances, may have to report the plans to the proper authorities.
If you are unhappy with your attorney
- Call, e-mail, or write your attorney with the specific reasons you are unhappy. Do so before you get so frustrated that you can't stand it. Try to couch your concerns in a way that will keep the attorney from getting defensive or feeling accused. Just be straightforward.
- If someone were unhappy with your work, you'd want the chance to explain yourself or correct the situation; give your attorney the same courtesy.
- Chances are good that your attorney can explain the concerns you have and why everything is really actually all right. If everything is not all right, you have still allowed your attorney a chance to correct the situation.
- It is almost always more expensive to hire a new attorney mid-case than to continue with your current attorney. If you think your attorney is seriously messing up your case, do consult another attorney but be careful to explain that you are currently represented--unhappy, but represented.
- If you do decide to fire your attorney and go to another, do it in writing. You can fax or write your current attorney to sever the relationship and request a complete copy of your file. Be sure your new attorney can accept your case before you fire your old attorney--you don't want to get stuck alone mid-case.
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