There may be dozens of questions you have for your potential lawyer. While we cannot provide legal advice on our website, we can provide answers to some general questions that may help you decide which lawyer is best suited to help you.
What should I look for in selecting a lawyer to represent me?
Before hiring a lawyer, you should spend some time researching the law firm you are considering. Ask for information about the lawyer's education, training, and experience dealing with cases similar to yours. Ask the lawyer to go over the fee contract with you in detail, and be sure you understand how you will pay the lawyer's fee and litigation costs at the end of the case. Ask about the possible adverse consequences if your case is lost. Ask if your lawyer intends to handle your case alone, and, if you are told that lawyers from outside law firms will be assisting, find out what the fee arrangements will be.
I have an attorney who handles my family matters. Why do I need another attorney?
Your cases may be against parties who are represented by adjusters and defense lawyers hired by insurance companies. You can expect that your opposition will be represented by an attorney with a great deal of experience litigating your type of case. Hiring an attorney experienced in your specific type of case may best serve your interests. (A great general practice doctor would never attempt heart surgery!)
If I hire a big, well-known law firm like Motley Rice, will I get the personal attention I get from a sole practitioner?
Our clients enjoy the personal contact typically associated with a small law firm, but with the resources of a large, well-established firm.
If I telephone for information, what do you need to know about my potential case?
A great deal of our time is spent gathering information from potential clients who contact us for the first time. Names and dates are always important, and we will often ask a new client to write a chronology of the events that led him/her to seek legal counsel. We will want to hear as much detail as you can provide about your potential case so that we can make informed decisions about whether to represent you and, if so, how we should prosecute your potential claim(s).
What can I expect from my first appointment with your firm?
At Motley Rice you will find a courteous and professional staff. Meeting your lawyer for the first time can be a stressful experience, and we will do our best to make you comfortable. Our staff reserves plenty of time to meet with new clients to discuss potential cases. Having documents at our disposal is beneficial, so we always suggest that new clients bring pertinent paperwork. Of course, the initial consultation is always free.
Will I have to put up any money to get started?
The majority of the cases we handle involve a contingent fee contract. That means we do not get paid until and unless our client makes a recovery. Generally, our fees will be a percentage of any recovery, and that percentage is computed before deducting expenses. In limited circumstances, we will represent a client on an hourly basis if the case calls for such a contract, in which case the retainer agreement will reflect that the client will pay expenses as they are incurred. In either instance, the full details of the fee and cost agreement you have with our firm will be explained to you in detail before we begin pursuing your potential claim(s).
Who pays for case-related out-of-pocket expenses while my case is pending?
This will depend on the fee and cost agreement that is agreed to in your case. When we represent a client on a contingent fee basis, we advance litigation expenses incurred during our representation. In that situation, our fee will be a percentage of the recovery computed before deducting expenses. If and when the case reaches a successful conclusion, the costs we have expended are returned to us out of your recovery before our fees are calculated.
Once you take my case, can I count on you to win?
We will do our best to represent our clients. There are no guaranteed outcomes for any lawsuit or claim. Our clients can count on the fact that we work hard and efficiently to make sure that the cases we prosecute are thoroughly prepared.
I have never been involved in a trial. How do you help your clients prepare?
Statistics prove that most cases get resolved prior to going to trial. Regardless, we believe in being prepared in the event that a settlement agreement between the parties cannot be reached. By the time a case is ready for trial, our clients will have spent a great deal of time with our lawyers and staff. You will know what to expect if and when your case goes to trial.
How do you decide whether to accept a settlement or take a case before a jury?
Deciding when to accept or reject a settlement offer is rarely an easy decision. Our lawyers advise our clients of the pros and cons of trying their cases versus settling before trial. We do our best to help our clients decide whether a settlement offer is a fair one, but the decision is ultimately the client's.
I keep reading about "the tort system". Exactly what is a tort?
The word "tort" comes from the Latin word for "wrong". The tort system typically refers to the court system's handling of personal injury negligence and similar cases.
