First appointment with a lawyer
The first meeting with your lawyer is essential. That's when the trust will develop essential.
Maybe you never entered a law office. The next few lines will help you prepare for this interview.
I. The presentation of your case
The main purpose of your appointment with your lawyer to explain to him your case so that it can assess whether under the law a lawsuit is necessary.
First, choose your lawyer based on his field of expertise.
Then, four actions could help you save time with your lawyer and accordingly help them better understand your case and ... reduce the amount of fees:
1) Put some order in your papers and documents;
2) Write a detailed chronology of events of your case;
3) Write the names and addresses of all persons appearing in the file (control, opponents, knowledgeable ...);
4) Write all the questions you would like to be informed.
Finally, when you talk with your lawyer, you should:
you explain your case factually, in a concise and precise (avoid unnecessary exposure);
reveal any information you have, whether negative or positive, to allow the lawyer to determine what it considers to be relevant or not to defend your interests. Do not hide anything from him, he is there to defend yourself and to know all the facts of the case;
ask him to explain the conduct of the proceedings and to learn about the various stages likely to increase the cost;
make sure you understand your lawyer's explanation (feel free to ask questions);
make sure that the lawyer will keep you informed regularly and he is committed to obtaining your approval for any new gesture can generate additional expenditure (eg expertise, bailiff's fees ... etc);
ask to be billed on a regular basis (and not just in the result), and secure with your lawyer billing periods.
In any event, in legal professional, your lawyer will give you the necessary information to understand your application.
II. The documents he needs.
Your lawyer will need to gather certain pieces to prove your claims. We need you to prepare copies of parts so it does not keep originals, except when the part is required in the original. In the latter case, you specify.
The meeting of these documents will counsel and support both personal and efficient, as must also the first interview.
It is essential that your lawyer may have an interview at the first assessment of your legal situation. This will allow you direct relevance with the procedure and tell you what are the chances of success of the action.
According actions, documents may be required:
Litigation of a professional: pay slips, employment contract, the applicable collective agreement, the correspondence with the employer or the employee, any amendments to the employment contract, the penalties ...
On compensation for damage suffered (eg in case of assault, traffic accident, other accident), initial medical certificate may be taken into account with an ITT, any certificate of extension, bulletin hospitalization, evidence of unreimbursed medical expenses, proof of affiliation to the primary health insurance fund, possibly a mutual (in criminal cases where a civil, an appeal case will be necessary), generally proof of all costs arising from accident or aggression.
In divorce: extract of marriage certificate, a copy of your family book; extract of birth certificate, marriage contract if any, proof of income (tax returns).
In terms of easement: right of way or any difficulty relating to your property, cadastral map, possibly by the plan boundary surveyor, possibly easement agreement, file for building permits, any exchanges of correspondence with your neighbors, all contractual documents on the contractor, architect, insurance certificates ...
In terms of back taxes: notification, statements with full supporting documents ...
On the constitution of society: civil status records, financial situation, business plan, the possible grant application.
Litigation of administrative law: the decision to attack, the letter in which she was notified you.
III. The information that your lawyer must give you
Your lawyer is at your service. It should give you all the necessary elements for you to be clearly informed of his performance.
You must address the issue of fees at the first meeting, even from the first telephone interview. Agree on a method of billing which should preferably be recorded as part of a written fee agreement or engagement letter.
Ask him a total cost estimate of the cause.
There are three main methods of billing for legal fees:
1) the package price: that is to agree a global amount that must be paid by the client to the lawyer who has held office, ask the lawyer to clarify whether the lump sum includes disbursements;
2) The hourly rate: which is the mode most frequently used and is to bill the customer based on the number of hours the lawyer spends on the record (including time of telephone conversations and correspondence) the hourly rate will necessarily have been in place before undertaking the work;
3) The percentage payout: FRANCE, compensation can not be just the percentage. A fee agreement must provide for a fixed amount and a percentage. This must be fixed before any work and be a writing. The percentage payout is often associated with damage actions.
Feel free to ask your lawyer about the cost of action or proceeding against the methods of calculating fees ... if you are missing information.
Finally, regardless of billing method adopted, make sure it is in writing between you and your lawyer.
It is also normal for your lawyer requests an advance on his fees. Indeed, she will start working on your case. Obviously you must issue an invoice.
After the first interview, it will inform you every step of your application useful. It is therefore not necessary that you request a summary of each audit of your lawyer, you will be informed only of those that may affect the outcome or cost, this in an optical transparency and efficiency .
At the end of the mission entrusted, your lawyer will inform you of the result of his mission and warrants, will show any recourse against a decision and consider the advisability of such an appeal.
We must not forget that before all the lawyer is a board, which is in your best interests and who will advise you not to appeal if it is not appropriate.
Contrary to conventional views, the lawyer is not a litigious at all costs. On the contrary, his credibility lies in the relevance of advice that will provide you, their effectiveness. If a trial is not necessary, it will tell you.
Regarding the result, you will understand that a lawyer will implement all the means it has its disposal to ensure the best defense of your interests, but can in no way guarantee you a result, any as a doctor, even if your file looks solid.
Your lawyer is required to keep records that during a period of 10 years. Do not omit to call him back at the end of the return of single copies or originals that you would have assigned.
Maybe you never entered a law office. The next few lines will help you prepare for this interview.
I. The presentation of your case
The main purpose of your appointment with your lawyer to explain to him your case so that it can assess whether under the law a lawsuit is necessary.
First, choose your lawyer based on his field of expertise.
Then, four actions could help you save time with your lawyer and accordingly help them better understand your case and ... reduce the amount of fees:
1) Put some order in your papers and documents;
2) Write a detailed chronology of events of your case;
3) Write the names and addresses of all persons appearing in the file (control, opponents, knowledgeable ...);
4) Write all the questions you would like to be informed.
Finally, when you talk with your lawyer, you should:
you explain your case factually, in a concise and precise (avoid unnecessary exposure);
reveal any information you have, whether negative or positive, to allow the lawyer to determine what it considers to be relevant or not to defend your interests. Do not hide anything from him, he is there to defend yourself and to know all the facts of the case;
ask him to explain the conduct of the proceedings and to learn about the various stages likely to increase the cost;
make sure you understand your lawyer's explanation (feel free to ask questions);
make sure that the lawyer will keep you informed regularly and he is committed to obtaining your approval for any new gesture can generate additional expenditure (eg expertise, bailiff's fees ... etc);
ask to be billed on a regular basis (and not just in the result), and secure with your lawyer billing periods.
In any event, in legal professional, your lawyer will give you the necessary information to understand your application.
II. The documents he needs.
Your lawyer will need to gather certain pieces to prove your claims. We need you to prepare copies of parts so it does not keep originals, except when the part is required in the original. In the latter case, you specify.
The meeting of these documents will counsel and support both personal and efficient, as must also the first interview.
It is essential that your lawyer may have an interview at the first assessment of your legal situation. This will allow you direct relevance with the procedure and tell you what are the chances of success of the action.
According actions, documents may be required:
Litigation of a professional: pay slips, employment contract, the applicable collective agreement, the correspondence with the employer or the employee, any amendments to the employment contract, the penalties ...
On compensation for damage suffered (eg in case of assault, traffic accident, other accident), initial medical certificate may be taken into account with an ITT, any certificate of extension, bulletin hospitalization, evidence of unreimbursed medical expenses, proof of affiliation to the primary health insurance fund, possibly a mutual (in criminal cases where a civil, an appeal case will be necessary), generally proof of all costs arising from accident or aggression.
In divorce: extract of marriage certificate, a copy of your family book; extract of birth certificate, marriage contract if any, proof of income (tax returns).
In terms of easement: right of way or any difficulty relating to your property, cadastral map, possibly by the plan boundary surveyor, possibly easement agreement, file for building permits, any exchanges of correspondence with your neighbors, all contractual documents on the contractor, architect, insurance certificates ...
In terms of back taxes: notification, statements with full supporting documents ...
On the constitution of society: civil status records, financial situation, business plan, the possible grant application.
Litigation of administrative law: the decision to attack, the letter in which she was notified you.
III. The information that your lawyer must give you
Your lawyer is at your service. It should give you all the necessary elements for you to be clearly informed of his performance.
You must address the issue of fees at the first meeting, even from the first telephone interview. Agree on a method of billing which should preferably be recorded as part of a written fee agreement or engagement letter.
Ask him a total cost estimate of the cause.
There are three main methods of billing for legal fees:
1) the package price: that is to agree a global amount that must be paid by the client to the lawyer who has held office, ask the lawyer to clarify whether the lump sum includes disbursements;
2) The hourly rate: which is the mode most frequently used and is to bill the customer based on the number of hours the lawyer spends on the record (including time of telephone conversations and correspondence) the hourly rate will necessarily have been in place before undertaking the work;
3) The percentage payout: FRANCE, compensation can not be just the percentage. A fee agreement must provide for a fixed amount and a percentage. This must be fixed before any work and be a writing. The percentage payout is often associated with damage actions.
Feel free to ask your lawyer about the cost of action or proceeding against the methods of calculating fees ... if you are missing information.
Finally, regardless of billing method adopted, make sure it is in writing between you and your lawyer.
It is also normal for your lawyer requests an advance on his fees. Indeed, she will start working on your case. Obviously you must issue an invoice.
After the first interview, it will inform you every step of your application useful. It is therefore not necessary that you request a summary of each audit of your lawyer, you will be informed only of those that may affect the outcome or cost, this in an optical transparency and efficiency .
At the end of the mission entrusted, your lawyer will inform you of the result of his mission and warrants, will show any recourse against a decision and consider the advisability of such an appeal.
We must not forget that before all the lawyer is a board, which is in your best interests and who will advise you not to appeal if it is not appropriate.
Contrary to conventional views, the lawyer is not a litigious at all costs. On the contrary, his credibility lies in the relevance of advice that will provide you, their effectiveness. If a trial is not necessary, it will tell you.
Regarding the result, you will understand that a lawyer will implement all the means it has its disposal to ensure the best defense of your interests, but can in no way guarantee you a result, any as a doctor, even if your file looks solid.
Your lawyer is required to keep records that during a period of 10 years. Do not omit to call him back at the end of the return of single copies or originals that you would have assigned.
