Let’s be honest here, we all have those dusty, ragged old ghosts hiding in our closets. They may or may not be something that you need to share with your attorney. If you’re not sure if something could/will/may affect your case just ask! Once an attorney represents you (typically this is made clear by signing a representation agreement), discussions between you, your attorney, and firm staff are all confidential.

If you forget to mention something to your attorney during your appointment, you should always feel comfortable calling the office and speaking with your attorney or their assistant. At the very least, send an e-mail with whatever information slipped your mind.

5. The best legal a dvice comes from knowing all the relevant facts.

You should never expect to get the best advice from an attorney who only has half of the facts. Please tell you attorney everything about your legal situation from the very start! When surprises happen in a case, it is usually because someone left a piece of valuable information out.

4. To assume makes a fool out of you and me.

Try your best not to make assumptions. I have seen this happen far too many times. Clients assume that their attorney knows about changes in their status, address, phone number or the position of their own case. Attorneys are wonderful hard working individuals but they are most definitely not mind readers!

3. You don’t want any unexpected billable hours you didn’t anticipate .

The best and greatest attorneys truly want the best outcome for their clients. To that point, they are willing to work hard to achieve it. Sometimes this hard work can show itself in the form of time spent working on your case. Make sure that when you and your attorney discuss representation in the beginning. You should discuss your expectations and theirs regarding time spent working on the case, and how much money you are willing to spend to get the results you are looking for.

2 . People forget details when they are overwhelmed, emotionally or financially invested.

Meeting with an attorney can be overwhelming for some people. It may be hard for a client to gather all of the information while still trying to actively participate in the meeting. Similarly, when a client is emotionally or financially invested in the outcome of a matter, it can be difficult to hear exactly what is being said versus what they are hoping to hear. For both these reasons, I recommend bringing a well-trusted friend with you to meetings with your attorney. Your friend can help take notes for you, and if they are familiar with your matter they can even remember some details that you may forget to mention in the meeting.

1. Good communication can help win your case.

The communications between an attorney and their client are crucial to a successful case. By giving your attorney all of the information you have regarding your case and by listening to the advice and questions that your attorney has for you, you assist your attorney in getting even closer to a positive outcome.

Remember: be open, honest, and keep your attorney up to date! As a client, you play a large role in the success of your case. No one bats a thousand. There are multiple variables that need to be considered for each and every case. Be sure that your attorney has all of the information that they need to be able to consider and predict these variables.

Nicole Foote

Paralegal at Bethune | Enright, PLLC

This Blog/Web Site is made available by the lawyer or law firm publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. By using this blog site you understand that there is no attorney-client relationship between you and the Blog/Web Site publisher. The Blog/Web Site should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state.

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