Make a checklist of your requirements and then interview 3 of them --
-Does he/might he know the judge? the judges inner circle?
-Does his Law Firm have these connections?
-If criminal, please list your experience with each agency, and the name/+title of your boss, and the name/+title of his/her superior.
-Years in private practice.
-Years of 1st Chair courtroom experience.
-List of wins/losses (redacted to protect client privacy of course!) over the past 18 months.
Discuss all possible realms of fee arrangements: fixed hourly rate (and this rate expires when? get a date - they revise rates annually), retainer required - now and in the future, flat fee, expenses..... and get it all in writing; this is not a burden for a reputable lawyer
-GET A LIST OF HOW MUCH YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR WHAT. 75 cents per page for a photocopy is not reasonable.
Signing the Contract/"Retainer Agreement" ---
Be careful here, but remember, most lawyers are not rich. They likely have families to feed too. Don't sign it 'on the spot'. Take a copy home and read it. Then give it to someone, whom you think has the ability and interest, to read on your behalf and give you their evaluation of the fairness of the contract, and possible loopholes/situations not addressed in the retainer agreement. When dealing with e-mailed documents, beware of intentional/unintended substitute documents - i.e., the one you got emailed is not the one put in front of you at the office for signature. KEEP AN ORIGINAL of this contract - with yours and the lawyer's binding signature.
After you have retained YOUR lawyer:
Be respectful, but the squeaky wheel gets the grease! you have the right to know the process, it's timeline, and work him/her to that end!!!! if there are forks in the road, tell him you can handle a flow chart of possible outcomes, and their possible subsequent actions. Congratulate him/her for being a natural chess player
-Does he/might he know the judge? the judges inner circle?
-Does his Law Firm have these connections?
-If criminal, please list your experience with each agency, and the name/+title of your boss, and the name/+title of his/her superior.
-Years in private practice.
-Years of 1st Chair courtroom experience.
-List of wins/losses (redacted to protect client privacy of course!) over the past 18 months.
Discuss all possible realms of fee arrangements: fixed hourly rate (and this rate expires when? get a date - they revise rates annually), retainer required - now and in the future, flat fee, expenses..... and get it all in writing; this is not a burden for a reputable lawyer
-GET A LIST OF HOW MUCH YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR WHAT. 75 cents per page for a photocopy is not reasonable.
Signing the Contract/"Retainer Agreement" ---
Be careful here, but remember, most lawyers are not rich. They likely have families to feed too. Don't sign it 'on the spot'. Take a copy home and read it. Then give it to someone, whom you think has the ability and interest, to read on your behalf and give you their evaluation of the fairness of the contract, and possible loopholes/situations not addressed in the retainer agreement. When dealing with e-mailed documents, beware of intentional/unintended substitute documents - i.e., the one you got emailed is not the one put in front of you at the office for signature. KEEP AN ORIGINAL of this contract - with yours and the lawyer's binding signature.
After you have retained YOUR lawyer:
Be respectful, but the squeaky wheel gets the grease! you have the right to know the process, it's timeline, and work him/her to that end!!!! if there are forks in the road, tell him you can handle a flow chart of possible outcomes, and their possible subsequent actions. Congratulate him/her for being a natural chess player
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