Evaluating An Attorneys Work
This can be difficult. You know next to nothing about
law. That?s why you?ve hired a competent lawyer to
care for all of your legal needs, right? However, if
you are utterly clueless, how can you be an accurate
judge of their performance?
No need for advanced law degrees here. All you need is
a bit of common sense and the ability to pay close
attention. You can assess your attorney?s job
performance by:
Their Willingness to Talk to You
You shouldn?t feel like you have to drag every little
bit of information out of your lawyer. They should
come forth with important information readily and
willingly. You?ve hired them to complete documents or
try a case for you, so you deserve to know everything
they know about your business.
Presentation of Work Completed
Again, since you are paying for a lawyer to complete
certain work, whether it be contracts or copyright
paperwork, you should periodically ask to see these
documents. You have every right to see them and it
will be a good way to gauge your lawyer?s work. Also
check to make sure all documents that were supposed to
be filed have been. If they have not been filed, find
out why.
Request Copies of All Paperwork
Along with asking to see all documents that are
written and filed, make sure you receive a hard copy
of each. You need to have a set of your own records
just so you can keep track of your lawyer?s progress.
Plus, if you have to undergo some sort of litigation,
you should have your own paperwork so that you can
keep track of your business on your own. This also is
useful just in case you ever decide to hire a
different lawyer. You?ll have all of the paperwork
necessary to bring the new lawyer up to speed.
Their Ability to Follow Through
You shouldn?t have to hold your lawyer?s hand, but it
is important to check up on them every once in awhile
to ensure they?re doing the job you?re paying them to
do. If they say they?re going to call you back, take
note how long it takes them to do so. If they say
they?re going to file a document, check to make sure
they actually did. Your reputation is on the line
here, so make sure they are representing you well.
How They Notify You of the Timeline
You should always have an idea of how long each and
every project will take. Whether it is the drafting of
a contract or a trial, you should always have a good
idea of the projected timeline. This way, you can hold
your attorney to this timeline, roughly, and gain a
better idea of their competency. An attorney that
repeatedly fails to meet their timeline may not be the
best choice for your business.
How They Notify You of Your Options
You always have options when it comes to legal matters
and your lawyer should make you aware of all of yours.
If he doesn?t, ask. If he isn?t forthright with
information, seek it out. If you have to do your own
digging each and every time you need to know something
from your lawyer, it might be time to start looking
for a replacement.
How They Bill You
Lawyers cost a lot of money. There?s just no getting
around that fact, and securing a good one for your
business is crucial. Don?t let the fact that attorneys
cost a lot make it so you fail to read their bills
closely. How much are they charging you and for what?
Do the fees agree with the service agreements you
signed?
One way to resolve any billing issues is to set a date
by which you will be billed each month, if applicable,
and to request itemized billing. This way, you know
exactly when you have to pay and specifically what you
have to pay for.
written by Rich