Читать книгу A Dentist’s Guide to the Law - American Dental Association - Страница 20

Once you have hired your lawyer, there are certain expectations for that relationship. You should expect your lawyer to:

• Prepare a written fee agreement, including information about what expenses you will be required to pay and the reasons behind those charges

• Be straightforward and honest in giving you advice

• Tell you the strengths and weaknesses of your case or position

• Keep you informed of the status of the matter and of actions that he or she is taking

• Follow your instructions (as long as they are legal, ethical, and reasonable)

• Protect your interests and consult you when making important decisions regarding your case

• Refrain from representing any other client with interests that conflict with yours during the time that she or he is representing you

• Provide you with copies of all letters and documents related to your matter

• Provide you with an itemized periodic bill of all work done and expenses related to your case

In turn, your lawyer will likely expect the following of you:

• Be present and on time for all appointments and court dates (if applicable)

• Give him or her reliable contact information for you and update him or her whenever your contact information changes

• Be completely honest. Except in very special circumstances, your lawyer must keep information you tell him or her confidential, and it’s important that your lawyer have as much information as possible that might help him or her argue your position effectively

If you have problems with your lawyer, such as if you are dissatisfied with the representation, first talk to him or her and see if the problems can be resolved in a mutually satisfactory manner. If you can’t resolve the problems, you have a right to fire the lawyer and hire a new one (though, depending on the matter, this may give rise to additional — and sometimes significant — costs).

If you have found an attorney with whom you can work well and whom you trust, you may have found a valuable business advisor on whom you can rely in the future to help with legal problems that may arise. This might include those problems beyond that attorney’s expertise — a good attorney will advise you when a matter is beyond his or her (or the firm’s) area of expertise, and will likely be able to recommend another attorney with that type of expertise. Thus, spending the time to carefully choose the right attorney to work with you and your practice may pay dividends beyond the current matter.