We’ve blogged in the past
about asking your attorney about experience and expertise. But it’s also
important when meeting with an attorney for the first time to discuss possible
results and potential outcomes. What do
you want to see happen at the end of your case? Do you want it to just go away?
Do you want to “win”? Do you want to crush or punish the other side? These questions
and your answers and the attorney’s answers depend on the kind of problem you’re
dealing with, on the kind of case you have.
If it’s a family law
case, crushing the other side may not be ideal in the long term, and it may not
even be possible or realistic. In an accident case, it’s less about winning, and
more about making sure you are compensated for any damages you have suffered,
any out of pocket expenses, any work related losses. In a criminal case, it’s
about making the best decision you can in your circumstances. That could mean taking
a plea deal, going to trial, or maybe even testifying against someone else. It
will all depend on the situation you are facing. What’s most important is that
you develop a good, working relationship with the person you hire to be your attorney.
Ideally, you need to
feel that you’ve hired a competent, skillful advocate, that you trust that person
to guide you appropriately through your legal problem and that you’re both on the
same page about your ultimate goal(s). The way to get there is to talk with
your attorney frankly, prepare a list of questions before your consultation appointment.
Go slow and ask about the case itself, the attorney’s qualifications, their
approach to practice, your goals and money, of course, how much it will cost,
how will it be paid, but that’s a post for another day.
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