Ryan Dove
ADDRESS :
1111 N Loop W #1115, Houston, TX 77008
PHONE NUMBER : (832) 509-3400
Tips to Help You Build a Successful Relationship With Your Lawyer/Potential Lawyer.
People looking for lawyers are often stressed, confused and
afraid that someone may try to take advantage of them. Because of
this, sometimes potential clients say or do things that concern
the lawyer they're talking with. Lawyers sometimes refer to these
concerning actions from potential clients as 'red flags' - and if
a potential client raises too many red flags, that may even
result in the lawyer deciding that they are not the right person
to help with the situation.
To help avoid this type of situation, I've compiled the list of
tips below is a list of tips to help you build a successful
relationship with your lawyer/potential lawyer. Keep these tips
in mind during your interactions, and when your case ends you
will hopefully feel good about your experience with the
lawyer/client relationship.
Many of these tips have to deal with expectations. It is
absolutely ok to ask questions of your lawyer but you should keep
an open mind when entering into a new relationship with a lawyer.
- Only take legal advice from your lawyer. Sometimes other
professionals will (wrongfully) give folks legal advice. While
they may mean well, the law says only a lawyer can give legal
advice. Do not take legal advice from Realtors, CPAs or other
professionals.
- Do not compare your bankruptcy (or other legal situation)
to a friend or family member's bankruptcy. Every case is unique
based on the person's facts. The laws and how the laws are
interpreted can change. Just because something did or didn't
happen in a friend or family member's case does not mean it
will or will not happen in your case.
- Not everything you read on the internet is true. There are
many forums giving legal advice and do-it-yourself legal
advice. Laws vary from state to state and even vary depending
on what part of a state you live in.
- Principles are expensive. As an example, some folks may
admit that they owe a debt but they dispute a very small
percentage of a debt. When people want to make a creditor
'pay,' that's a huge red flag and in reality, it may cost you
more money to prove the point than to let go of the principle
and focus on resolving the larger issue at hand.
- Look for ways to move forward and not point fingers at
others. As another example, some folks are outraged that the
bank refused to work with them when they fell behind on
payments. Blaming the bank does not help resolve your current
situation.
- Accept the situation you are in. Disbelief and stress come
with the territory, but failing to be able to discuss the
situation and only focusing on how unfair you feel the
situation is can be a problem. It is difficult for a lawyer to
help you if you cannot have an ongoing discussion about your
situation.
- If you are confused, ask your lawyer (not the internet,
family or another lawyer). First, non-lawyers cannot give legal
advice. Second, it can really hamper the attorney/client
relationship when a client has questions and is asking those
questions of everyone but the lawyer. Remember, your lawyer is
an expert and you're paying them to help you.
- Give your lawyer a chance to return your telephone call or
e-mail. Lawyers are people, too. My firm strives to return
calls the same or the next business day. Do not expect that
your lawyer can return every call and e-mail within minutes.
The lawyer and the lawyer's staff may be gone for the day, in a
meeting with other clients or in court.
- Actively listen to what your lawyer tells you. While it may
be difficult to retain everything a lawyer says during an
hour-long consultation or meeting, it is important to hear the
lawyer's words, process what they are saying and ask any
questions you may have. I also encourage clients to take notes
during meetings.
- At the initial consultation, create your questions based on
what the lawyer tells you. It is ok to bring questions with
you, but the lawyer may answer most or all of them during the
consultation.
- Be realistic or try to understand if you are not being
realistic. For example, I sometimes give potential Chapter 13
bankruptcy clients (the type of bankruptcy where there is a
monthly payment) a checklist of tasks they need to accomplish
before I will take them on as a client. These checklists are
usually things I believe are necessary for the client to be
successful in their Chapter 13 bankruptcy case. If you get such
a list and know that you cannot or do not want to complete the
items on the list, tell the lawyer up front. Do not tell the
lawyer you have completed tasks/checklists only to have to
explain to the lawyer at the next meeting that you actually did
not complete the list. Again, remember that you hired your
lawyer to help you. Help them help you.
- Focus on the issue at hand. It is understandable that folks
struggling financially are stressed and sometimes they need to
vent. As lawyers part of our job is to listen. Continuing to
bring up issues that are unrelated to your case, however, will
impede moving your case forward.
- Understand that sometimes getting a fresh start means
having to make sacrifices. Sometimes you may have to give up
property, cut back on spending for certain items or tell
certain people you are filing bankruptcy. As an example, if you
have a child support obligation it is a requirement of the
bankruptcy code that the other parent receive notice of the
bankruptcy. That can be uncomfortable for some people, but it
is a means to an end to get your fresh start.
- The first time you contact a lawyer, call the lawyer
yourself. If you are not comfortable making the call, be in the
room with the person making the call. It may be, in certain
circumstances, that it can be arranged that a family member go
through the process with you. You, however, are going to be the
client, not your friend or family member, and the lawyer needs
to speak with you directly.
- Do not keep information from the lawyer. What you keep from
your lawyer may hurt your case. Make sure when telling the
lawyer about your situation and filling out paperwork that you
do not withhold anything. In a bankruptcy context, failing to
tell the whole truth about your debts, bank account balances or
assets can result in losing property, not receiving a discharge
or even being accused of bankruptcy fraud.
- When it comes to unpaid debts, focus on getting a fresh
start and not finding a 'gotcha' moment to 'beat' the creditor.
There is a lot of information on the internet about beating
credit card companies. If it were as easy to beat credit card
lawsuits and make them pay you money as those websites claim,
credit cards would probably stop suing people. Sometimes they
do make mistakes that violate the law, but let your lawyer make
that determination.
- Let the lawyer decide what is important or relevant. Facts
or information that may not seem important to you may be
critical to your case's success. It is much better to tell your
lawyer too much rather than not enough.
- Be on time. Lawyers have very hectic schedules. If you show
up an hour late for an appointment you may not get to spend the
amount of time with your lawyer that both you and your lawyer
need to properly analyze your situation. Or, the lawyer may not
be able to see you if you are late because of other meetings or
court settings. A potential client who is late or misses an
appointment is a red flag. Make sure to leave with plenty of
time to arrive at your lawyer's office.