Johnston Lawrence

How To Get The Best Value From Your Lawyer

22 December 2008. by Roger Chapman

Like many things in life, lawyers and legal services seem to cost a lot. At Johnston Lawrence, our aim is to provide you with an efficient, high quality service at reasonable cost.

While we are constantly trying to streamline our procedures to minimise costs, there are some things that you can do to help.

By following these tips, you can help us to give you value for money, as well as avoiding unpleasant surprises when the bill arrives!

Get advice sooner rather than later

It is often tempting to delay consulting your lawyer until the problem gets serious. By that time it may be too late to avoid a real crisis – it may even be too late to do anything to help you at all. If you contact us early, we can often prevent a problem from occurring at all, or at least contain it. Even if you are unsure whether you have a legal problem, a few minutes’ discussion with us may save you months or years of worry.

Ask for an estimate

For most routine transactions we can give you an estimate of the cost. For long or complicated assignments, it may be difficult to give you an estimate, but even then we will try. All you have to do is ask.

Put it on paper

You will probably have to provide your lawyer with basic information about your case before he or she can advise you. If so, put it on paper or send your lawyer an e-mail. Make sure that you have any important documents that you need. If possible, give the information and any documents to your lawyer in advance of your meeting, so it can be read beforehand. This is much quicker for your lawyer (and less expensive for you) than answering questions and waiting for your lawyer to write down the answers.

Be prepared

If you have questions to ask your lawyer, try to work out clearly before the meeting what they are. If necessary, write them down. You may find it helpful to head a blank sheet of paper with your problem and to list on it the issues involved. Try to be clear about the problems to which you want answers. If you can get these to your lawyer before your meeting that would also be helpful. If you give your lawyer unclear or vague information, it is harder for us, and may be more expensive for you, to get to the root of the problem.

Be concise

We will devote to your case or problem as much time and effort as you need. Remember though, that for most assignments, the fee we charge you depends mainly on the time involved. Some matters are complicated and understandably take time to discuss. But if you take an hour to explain to your lawyer something that could have been covered in 20 minutes, you will be paying for an hour of your lawyer’s time.

Respond promptly

Your lawyer will sometimes need to phone or write to you for information. If so, respond as soon as you can. There may be legal time limits which have to be met and delay may cause you serious problems. If you are unable to reply immediately, please tell us. If we have to write to you or ring you three or four times to get information, the extra work usually means an extra fee!

Can it wait?

While your lawyer is working on your case or transaction, you may think of questions to ask or of information that you should pass on. Before you pick up the phone, reflect for a moment whether this needs immediate action or whether it can wait until the next time you see or speak to your lawyer. If it really needs action now, then of course let us know – if there is a crisis or a serious problem, we will always try to help.
Please remember, though, that frequent phone calls to your lawyer may add to your bill – if your query can wait, it may be better to write it down (so you don’t forget it) and raise it when you next see or speak to your lawyer.

Pay the bill

Of course we want you to pay the bill! Our client surveys over the last year or so show that nearly all of our clients are satisfied with the service they receive from us, and most pay the bill promptly. You rightly expect us to handle your instructions punctually – in the same way, we expect you to pay the bill punctually. One of the best ways of making sure your affairs are handled promptly is to pay on time for the service you receive. If for any reason you cannot pay on time, or if you think you have been overcharged, please call our practice manager, Eddy Allan. But do it when you get the bill – don’t wait. We are always sympathetic to clients who have a genuine problem with payment.

For further information please contact the lawyer you usually deal with at Johnston Lawrence, or our practice manager, Eddy Allan.

The contents of this document are accurate to the best of Johnston Lawrence’s knowledge but are not intended as, or as a substitute for, legal advice. Johnston Lawrence accepts no liability to any person acting directly or indirectly on the information contained in this document.

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