Before Hiring Your Lawyer
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- 1. Shop Around and Compare:
- Don’t hire the first attorney you speak to. Most offer a free initial consultation—use this time to compare fees, experience, and personalities.
- Ask about their fee structure (hourly, flat fee, contingency, or a mix) and if they offer payment plans or a sliding scale based on income.
- Find an attorney whose expertise closely matches your specific legal need to minimize their learning curve.
- 2. Negotiate the Fee Agreement:
- Insist on a clear, written fee agreement that details all costs, including hourly rates for the lawyer, paralegals, and legal assistants.
- Ask if you can negotiate a flat fee for certain predictable tasks (like drafting a contract or reviewing a settlement).
- Inquire about and seek to limit extra expenses (photocopying, travel, court filing fees, etc.).
- 3. Explore “Unbundled” Legal Services (Limited Scope Representation):
- Unbundled services mean you hire a lawyer for specific, discrete tasks instead of full representation.
- Examples: The lawyer drafts documents for you to file, provides legal advice or coaching for court appearances, or conducts legal research while you handle the rest of the case yourself (as a self-represented litigant). This can dramatically reduce costs.
During Your Legal Representation
- 4. Be Highly Organized and Prepared:
- Gather, label, and organize all relevant documents, timelines, notes, and contact information before your first meeting. Don’t make the lawyer pay a billable hour to sort through a messy box of papers.
- Keep your own organized file and track all communication and documents your lawyer sends you.
- Promptly do what your lawyer asks. Delays can increase work and costs.
- 5. Streamline Communication:
- Bundle your questions. Instead of sending multiple emails or making frequent short calls, compile all your non-urgent questions into a single email or scheduled call to be more efficient with their billable time.
- Get to the point quickly and stick to facts relevant to the legal issue. Avoid long, emotional explanations that don’t advance the case.
- Utilize the staff (paralegals or legal assistants) for administrative questions (scheduling, copies, etc.), as their hourly rate is typically lower.
- 6. Do What You Can Yourself:
- Ask your lawyer what non-legal or administrative tasks you can handle to reduce their workload. This might include gathering public records, compiling a list of expenses, or performing non-legal research.
- 7. Set Clear Goals and Strategy:
- Communicate your desired outcome and budget upfront. Work with your attorney to align your legal strategy with your financial means.
- Prioritize objectives—avoid spending huge amounts on a matter that offers little return (“the principle of the thing”).
- Be open to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) like mediation or arbitration, which is often much cheaper than a full-blown trial.
Managing Billing and Payment
- 8. Review Your Invoices Closely:
- Insist on receiving detailed, itemized invoices regularly.
- Review every charge. If something is unclear or seems excessive, ask your attorney about it immediately. You have the right to a full explanation.
