Top Ten General Questions
There are many questions clients ask me. Most are very reasonable, some are for lack of better words, somewhat odd. You should ask any and all questions that come to mind without any concern and I will do my best to answer them. Some common questions include:
Do you prefer to negotiate and settle or fight it out in court?
Reasonable people negotiate. Unreasonable people do not. I like to think of myself as a reasonable person, so my preference is to negotiate first and litigate later. Be a deal-maker rather than a deal-breaker. That may not be the best course of action, particularly when there is a Statute of Limitations problem that requires filing a lawsuit first. And then there are the unreasonable people and companies. They often make litigation unavoidable.
How long have you been in practice?
I have practiced law as a solo practitioner in the Denver metro area since 1990. I was in-house counsel for several major corporations before that.
How Long Will It Take?
The detailed facts, the applicable law of your issue and the nature of any opposing parties will determine that. It will also depend on how soon you return requested information to me. For example, I can usually complete an estate plan within two weeks of receiving your information. Yet litigation can go on for years.
How Much Will It Cost?
That is impossible to answer as a general question. I will answer that question in person after we review your issue(s) and decide on a course of action.
Time Limitations
The law restricts lawsuits to a time frame called the "Statute of Limitations." If you do not file within that time then you lose the right to file. There are different time limits for different types of actions. Of course, we never know for certain the time limit on our life. Fundamentally, the sooner you see me the better our chances of success.
When Are You Available?
A subset of this question might be "How long to you take to return phone calls?" or "How do I get a hold of you if there is an emergency? What do you consider to be an emergency?" Give me a call or send me an email. I will return any messages as soon as possible.
Will you keep me informed?
Yes! Of course! I generally use email and the telephone to keep you informed. While I prefer not doing a daily update or to advise you of every little thing that happens, I will keep you posted with as much or as little information as we decide is appropriate. It just runs up my bill if I have to take additional time for detailing trivia. You will also receive a monthly statement that details the time I spend on your issue. This is a two-way street question. Hiring an attorney who can obtain the legal outcome you desire is very important. But an attorney's ability to identify and analyze legal issues--then communicate a legal strategy and plan of action to you in clear terms--are also very important measures of value. My ability to address your issue(s) will be severely hampered if you do not keep ME informed.
Will You Take Me On As A Client?
I don't know. We need to discuss your issue(s) and I have to decide whether I want to represent you.
Will you be doing the work yourself? If not, who will?
In general, I do the work myself. When appropriate or necessary I will employ others to assist me with representing you.
Working With An Attorney - What do you expect of me?
Honesty and candor. More than anything. I cannot give you the best legal advice if I do not know the facts or am misinformed. It is more than just answering my questions. Candor implies that you are forthcoming. That you volunteer facts. You must be willing to involve your attorney in your life and organization as a partner.
The attorney-client privilege enjoys the highest protections known to man. Even more than a priest-penitent, doctor-patient, or other types of professional relationships. You can and should tell me things you would not even tell your priest.
Do what I tell you to do. If I tell you to get me certain documents, do that. If I tell you to not say anything to anybody, do that. Follow my advice!