Legal Consultation Expectations
Many people are afraid to consult a lawyer because of outrageous fees they believe they will incur, or a drawn-out court case that will be more of a hassle than it’s worth. Perhaps they have heard a friend’s horror story of her divorce proceedings, and how the lawyer ended up charging almost as much as she was awarded in alimony. But lawyers, for the most part, are there to defend your legal rights. Many specialize in certain areas of the law, some with intricacies and seeming contradictions that a lay person can’t be expected to understand, much less use to his advantage.
This is where the legal consultation comes in. In many cases, this session is completely free, and should a client decide to hire an attorney, she only pays for representation if her case is won. During this meeting, someone who believes she has a personal injury, workers’ compensation, wrongful death, or automobile accident case, can present the facts and her records to an attorney to determine whether she should proceed. This initial meeting can help familiarize her with the law surrounding the incident of concern, and help her decide whether she has a case, or it would just be a waste of time and money.
During this session, the attorney can help the potential client assess what records she needs to obtain before going to court, as well as any potential witnesses she should contact to testify. The attorney can tell her what she should anticipate based on the facts surrounding her case. For instance, whether the insurance company or employer is likely to dispute any of her claims, and what she needs to arm herself with to counter this.
The attorney and client also start to develop a rapport during the consultation. Should the client decide the attorney isn’t a good fit, she can request to be represented by someone else in the firm, or she can decide to take her business elsewhere. Either way, she leaves the session better informed and better equipped to take legal action.
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April 19th, 2009 at 5:18 am
The government has to provide more detailed information about the law enforcement and
intelligence community’s needs for lawful access. It should demonstrate that all new proposed surveillance powers are proportionate to the objectives it seeks to reach. The government also should engage in more consultations with the civil society to enhance
trust, build dialogue and promote democratic governance
May 12th, 2009 at 7:38 am
Your article is really interest. The insurance company or employer is likely to dispute any of her claims, and what she needs to arm herself with to counter this. Many specialize in certain areas of the law, some with intricacies and seeming contradictions that a lay person can’t be expected to understand, much less use to his advantage.