What Questions should I Ask the Lawyer

Before you ask any questions at your first meeting, you’ll need to tell the lawyer the details of your problem. Anything you tell the lawyer is privileged and may not be disclosed without your consent. This applies even during the initial consultation phase, before the lawyer has been "hired." At this first meeting, there are several questions you should ask the lawyer before trusting him or her with your legal affairs.

They include but are not limited to:

Do you handle cases like mine? How many similar cases have you done in the past year?
If your case requires specialized legal knowledge of military issues, ask if the civilian lawyer is
familiar with such issues.

What are the chances for success? Do I have a good case?
If I hire you and your firm, who will actually do the work? You, another attorney, a paralegal or a law clerk?

As part of the hiring process, you need to feel comfortable with your attorney. Is he or she personable and courteous? Can they explain things in a way you can understand? Do they seem like a person you can trust to act on your behalf?

One of the potential problem areas in hiring a civilian lawyer can be the subject of the lawyer's fee. A fee arrangement should be worked out before committing your case to a specific lawyer. Again, there are questions that you should ask to prevent future problems.

These include:

Do you charge for the initial consultation? If so, how much?
How do you charge your clients? Flat fee? Hourly rate? Contingency fee (a percentage of any compensation or damages that you win in court)?
If a contingency fee, what is your percentage? Do your expenses come out of your percentage or out of the client's?

What out-of-pocket expenses do you estimate in my case (filing fees, transcripts, expert witness fees, private investigation costs)?
How long will my case take to complete?
Do you require a retainer (up-front money)?
Will I receive itemized bills on a periodic basis? If so, how often or after what specific events? Are there any procedures in place to spread out the payments?

May I have additional copies of all documents pertaining to my case? If so, will it cost additional money? If so, how much?
If any of the work is performed by your staff (paralegal, clerks, etc.) will my bill be less?
GET A FEE AGREEMENT AND ANY IMPORTANT TERMS IN WRITING!

Once you have a list of lawyers who practice in the legal area you need, you need to choose one to represent you. You should select a lawyer the same way you choose other professional help. You must trust and have confidence in your lawyer. It may help to consider recommendations from friends and family, co-workers and others you know who have used a certain lawyer. Advertisements can sometimes be helpful, but are no assurance of experience or competence.

What To Do Before Meeting With a Civilian Lawyer

Once you have made a "short list" of potential civilian lawyers, you need to prepare for your initial consultation. Prepare a thorough summary of facts. This may require a substantial amount of time on your part. Just remember, the more preparation you do in advance, the less the lawyer has to do. If you are unprepared, the lawyer may have to do more of the groundwork before he or she can properly advise you.

Because most lawyers charge by the hour, their time is your money. Also, it is very important for you to bring all relevant documents (contracts, bills, letters, etc.) to the initial consultation.