NCJ Number
81166
Date Published
1979
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This booklet provides tips to people seeking legal counsel, including suggestions on shopping for a lawyer, interviewing prospects, and making fee arrangements.
Abstract
Alternatives to hiring a lawyer are first reviewed, such as small claims courts and arbitration, and procedural instruction guides to simple legal processes are presented. In general, the booklet advises against retaining a lawyer in civil cases unless substantial money or property is involved. Suggestions for locating lawyers or substitute services are presented, including asking friends, contacting local organizations involved in legal service, calling law schools, and checking newspaper advertisements. Several lawyers should be contacted to obtain comparable information on services and fees. Basic questions that should be asked in an interview cover the lawyer's expertise, performance of the legal work, billing practices, charges, timetables, the lawyer's accessibility to clients, and the resolution of disarrangements. The section on fee arrangements describes hourly rates, contingent fees, and flat fees, as well as percentage charges and minimum fee schedules which are now illegal. The written contract between lawyer and client is dealt with, and remedies for dissatisfaction with a lawyer's handling of a case are discussed. Approximately 30 references are provided. The appendixes contain a sample attorney employment contract and forms for contingent and fixed fee arrangements.