15 Questions to Ask before Hiring a Lawyer

Course details

Learning how to work with attorneys is an essential skill for executives and managers as well as a skill every business owner should know. Lawyers often expect their clients to know what law firms do for their clients, but the reality is that most people are unprepared to work with attorneys and often don’t understand what they do or what questions to ask.

Dana Robinson, an attorney, managing partner, and business operator, knows what clients should ask their attorneys. In this course, he presents 15 questions to ask a lawyer. Learn how to better work with your attorneys by understanding the questions you can ask when you are hiring an attorney, or even after you’ve already engaged counsel. Is the law firm size right for your needs? Is the lawyer an expert in the areas of law you need? Is a retainer required? Explore these questions and more to become more knowledgeable about what lawyers do so you can engage their services more effectively and efficiently.

Concepts

Introduction

Overview

Before You Start

Get your story straight
First interactions

Asking Questions

Ask about a case like yours that they've worked on
Ask if your matter is in the right jurisdiction
Ask if they have a gut reaction to your matter
Ask if they think you are wrong
Ask about billing
Ask about retainer fees
Ask about minimum billing
Ask how much of the work is done by associates
Ask what they believe a likely outcome will be
Ask if the scope of the case is entirely in the lawyer s expertise
Ask about timelines
Does this case go to court right away
Ask if mediation or arbitration is required
Ask about the likely out-of-pocket expenses aside from your fees
Ask if an expert witness likely to be involved

Conclusion

Conclusion