User’s Guide: Lawyer 2.0

Lawyers don’t ask a lot . Here are the top four things you can do to avoid sabotaging your case.

Pay on time.  Lawyers are in business.  We sell our time and advice.  If you don’t pay us, we can’t pay our own expenses: staff, rent, overhead, experts hired for your case, etc.  Maybe a few bucks to pay ourselves.  Pretty soon, we have to put your file on the back burner to work on files for people who do pay us. 

Be clear when you communicate.  Be clear about what you tell us about your situation.  Use facts, not feelings: “He’s a monster” is useless.  “He broke my arm” is useful.  When we ask questions, answer them all – not just one.  Tell us what you want us to do.  Don’t call us just to complain – that’s a job for your Mom or friend.  If you call us, make sure you have a result you want us to achieve.

Give us the documents we ask for.  We need them.  Sometimes to help win your case.  Sometimes because we are legally obliged to give them to the other side.  Sometimes both.  Stalling or refusing to give us documents we ask for will always hurt your case.  It may result in a court order against you, and an order that you pay the other side’s court costs.  Plus, of course, paying us to try to defend you for being obstructive.

Give us the names of witnesses.  Skied with Cousin Fred before the car crash?  Took the kids to the dentist, doctor, etc.?  Long-time friend who knows what you were like before and after the injury?  Someone who saw your spouse try to pick up the kids for access while drunk?  Tell us.  Give us all their names, emails, phone numbers.  Tell us about them.  If this witness saw important stuff, but is an addict, easily-confused, unwilling to get involved – whatever – tell us.  We need to decide who to use for affidavits and at trial.

See a theme here?  It’s this: Cooperate with your lawyer.  We can’t help you if you’re working against us.