Save Money on Legal Fees!

Yes, I am actually going to tell you how to save money on legal fees.

Let's say that you need to see a lawyer.  You have a dispute with a person and now you need to sue the person or you are getting sued and you have decided to hire me.  Here are a few ways to get it done faster and for less money. 

First of all, remember that you are paying me for my time.  Therefore, anything you can do to reduce the time I need to spend on the file reduces your fees.  Secondly, I have 75-100 cases, you have one.  (This means I can spend an average of less than half an hour on each file each week.)

Before you come to see me, collect all the documents that you have that relate to the dispute.  I'll need them soon enough anyway, so you might as well get them to me early.  Put them in some sort of logical (often chronological) order.  Don't contaminate the documents by writing notes all over them.  If you need to make explanatory notes, make then on a separate piece of paper.

Make some notes for me about your case, detailing the history and the facts that are not in the documents.  List the names, addresses and phone numbers of the people involved.

Drop off the documents and the notes to me before your appointment.  I can read your notes a lot faster than if I have to take notes during our discussion.  I will be able to know about your case before you walk in the door.  Sometimes, I may even be able to do some research before your appointment.  I will be able to get down to the relevant issues faster and we will make better use of our time.

If you decide to hire me and we are working on your case, you can continue to make efficient use of my time.  If you have comments to make about some correspondence you got from me, it may be appropriate to jot them down and mail, fax or e-mail them to me.

E-mail is a great tool to communicate with clients. Often, I have to draft legal documents setting out the details that you gave me.  It is sometimes easier for us to cut and paste than to re-type.

Some clients call me every time they get a letter. Sometimes we have lengthy discussions, where we go over much of the same matters that we have discussed in earlier calls.  This can end up taking up a lot of time and costing a lot of money, for little result.  It is your obligation, as well as mine, to be efficient with your lawyer?s time.

Why do I say all this?  Lawyers are generally busy.  I don?t know any lawyers that are starving for work.  I actually appreciate it when a client is able to do things that reduce the time I need to spend on a file.  Their file gets completed faster, for less fees, and they are happier.