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WHAT ARE YOUR LAWYER'S RESPONSIBILITIES TO YOU?

What are your lawyer's professional obligations?

Privileges, ethics, rules of professional conduct: lawyers have high standards and lots of duties to uphold. Your lawyer must represent you ethically, zealously and within the bounds of the law.

Here are some basic ethical and professional rules your lawyer must follow:

  • Your lawyer must competently analyze legal issues and exercise knowledge of the law applicable to your case. He or she must communicate with you in a timely and effective manner.

  • Your attorney owes you, as the client, a duty of loyalty. Your lawyer can't simultaneously represent you and another client with legal interests that conflict with yours. An example of an obvious conflict would be representation of both the landlord and the tenant in an eviction action.

  • Your lawyer is required to follow your directions in handling your case unless those directions are illegal.

  • Your lawyer must keep your personal property separate from his or her own property, and must keep your money in an escrow account. Any time you demand it, your lawyer must return your money or property.

  • Your attorney may have other responsibilities to you, depending on your case and the ethical rules that apply in your jurisdiction.


Are your discussions with your lawyer confidential?

Yes. When you speak with an attorney about a legal matter, your communications with that attorney are privileged. This means that subject to some very limited exceptions, and unless you grant permission, your attorney can't disclose to a third party any information that you provided.

 

10 Questions to Ask Your Lawyer?

Here is a handy checklist of basic questions to ask before you hire a lawyer:

    1. What is your experience in this field?

    2. Have you handled matters like mine?

    3. What are the possible outcomes of my case?

    4. What are my alternatives in resolving the matter?

    5. Approximately how long will it take to resolve?

    6. Do you recommend mediation or arbitration?

    7. What are your rates and how often will you bill me?

    8. What is a ballpark figure for the total bill, including fees and expenses?

    9. How will you keep me informed of progress?

    10. What kind of approach will you take to resolve the matter - aggressive and unyielding, or will you be more inclined to reach a reasonable settlement?