subject: Building A Good Relationship With Your Lawyer [print this page] If you need to hire a lawyer, then you are probably dealing with a serious issue of one form or another. It is also probably going to cost you a great deal of money since, as everyone knows, attorney fees are not cheap. For these reasons and more, it is important to do your part in making sure that you receive the best possible representation.
First: Never lie to your lawyer. There are no exceptions to this rule. People often lie to their lawyer and it is a big mistake. Your attorney needs to know all the facts, even the ones that don't help you. He can't give you the best representation without all the information. In fact, it may do you a great deal of harm to have your lawyer basing his arguments on incomplete or false information. So don't lie.
Second: Try to be a good client. Do not be difficult to talk to. Do not be rude. If your lawyer asks you to do something, such as provide documents, then do it as quickly as possible. You must remember that attorneys are just like anybody else. They are not going to be thrilled about working hard for someone they don't like. It is very likely that your attorney has a lot of work to be done for a lot of clients. If your lawyer doesn't like you because you are difficult to work with, then what degree of priority do you think he will place on you and your case? So be nice.
Finally: Pay your attorney. If your representation agreement calls for legal fees to be paid up front or by billing (as opposed to contingency fee cases), then be sure to pay the full amount on time. Again, how hard will your attorney want to work for someone who doesn't pay on time or pay the full amount? Make sure that you can make the payments before you hire your lawyer, otherwise you may get minimal effort from your attorney. Or worse, your lawyer may drop you as a client. Then you'll be out all the money you paid, with no lawyer to show for it.
