Hiring a Lawyer

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This material was prepared as a community service by members of the Law Practice Management Community of the D.C. Bar and may be reproduced for nonprofit use.

Glossary of Legal Terms

Attorney: Also called “lawyer” or “counselor at law.“哥伦比亚特区的执业靠谱的滚球平台必须在哥伦比亚特区获得执照, and must have graduated from an accredited law school, passed a Bar examination, and completed a limited background investigation.

Bar: An organization of lawyers. The D.C. Bar consists of all lawyers who are admitted to practice in the District of Columbia.

Cause of Action: The legal name for the claim of the person bringing the lawsuit (the plaintiff).

Civil Case: A lawsuit about legal rights that usually involves money or property; it also includes family cases such as divorce or custody.

Complaint: This is the document that initiates a lawsuit. Accompanied by a summons, it will tell you that you have a limited period of time (usually only 20 days) to respond or you will face a default judgment (i.e., you will automatically lose the case). If you receive a complaint, get some assistance and respond within the deadline.

Criminal Case: The government or “state” prosecutes someone accused of a crime.

Defendant: The person or organization accused of breaking the law.

Fee Advance: Sometimes called “retainer” in error. A fee advance is very different from a retainer. A fee advance is payment made to a lawyer before the legal work begins. It is to be used to pay for legal services to be provided and expenses to be owed in the future; that payment is typically returned to the client if there is client money left over at the end of the legal work.

Litigation: The act or process of carrying on a lawsuit.

Mediation: When a person who has no interest in the lawsuit meets with the two parties and tries to help them adjust or settle their dispute.

Negotiation: Conferring, discussing, or bargaining to reach an agreement.

Plaintiff: The person who brings a lawsuit.

Pro Se: Appearing for one’s self, 例如,一个人没有聘请靠谱的滚球平台,而是自己出庭.

Retainer靠谱的滚球平台费是为了确保靠谱的滚球平台可以为客户工作而支付的费用,通常是不可退还的.

Introduction

有时你知道你需要一位靠谱的滚球平台——你刚刚卷入了一场重大交通事故,或者你的企业正受到债权人的困扰,你可能想申请破产. 其他时候,你认为你可能需要一个靠谱的滚球平台——你想买一套房子,或者你花了很多钱买的东西不正常工作——但你不确定你是否需要一个靠谱的滚球平台或其他类型的帮助.

即使你认为你需要一个靠谱的滚球平台,你也可能有很多其他的问题:我在哪里找靠谱的滚球平台? How will I know which lawyer is best for me? How do I know if a particular lawyer can handle the is job? What should I do if I am unhappy with my lawyer?

The following information is written to help you answer these kinds of questions.

Do You Need a Lawyer?

There are certain situations where you should have a lawyer. For example, if you are charged with a crime, including a serious traffic offense such as drunk driving or reckless driving, or a traffic offense following an accident or collision, you definitely need a lawyer. If you are sued in a civil case, especially if the lawsuit seeks a large amount of money, you should have a lawyer. 任何时候你的自由、公民权利或财务受到威胁,你都应该寻求法律援助. Depending on the nature of the offense and whether jail time is a possible outcome, 如果你被指控犯有某些罪行,你有宪法赋予的权利让靠谱的滚球平台为你辩护. That right is so important that the court will appoint a lawyer to help you if you cannot afford to pay for one.

还有许多其他事项可能需要法律援助,或法律援助将大大提高你保护自己的机会. It may involve a lawsuit, such as a suit about custody of a child, or one about child support; a suit against you by someone claiming you owe him or her money; or a claim by the Internal Revenue Service that you owe back taxes. It may be that you believe you have a claim that would require filing a lawsuit, such as a claim of discrimination, a claim for injuries from an automobile accident or as a result of bad medical treatment or toxic waste dumping, or a claim that a service or product you purchased was defective. Or, you may have problems with creditors and think you need to declare bankruptcy.

Some types of legal matters do not necessarily involve going to court, but you still should consult a lawyer who is knowledgeable about handling your issue. For example, you may need a will, or you may be purchasing a home or a business and need assistance with the contract, or you may need to negotiate a separation settlement with your spouse. You may also need a lawyer if you want to become a resident or citizen of the United States.

Will Someone Else Provide a Lawyer for You?

Before you set out to find a lawyer, be sure that you are not already entitled to one appointed for you free of charge. If you have insurance that may cover a loss, such as automobile insurance, a homeowner’s policy, or worker’s compensation, the insurance company normally appoints and pays a lawyer to act on your behalf. If you are sued in a matter that involves an organization you participate in, such as a church or school, that organization may have insurance that will pay a lawyer to defend you. In addition, anyone charged with serious criminal offenses who cannot afford a lawyer may be entitled to one appointed and paid by the court.

If you are not sure whether you need a lawyer, you can consult a lawyer just to find out whether you have a legal problem. The D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center sponsors a free monthly Advice & 转介诊所,在那里你可以免费与靠谱的滚球平台交谈,以确定你是否有法律问题,并可能得到转介到法律或其他服务提供者. For clinic locations and times, call the Legal Information Help Line at 202-626-3499.

Some lawyer referral services, such as the ones sponsored by DC Refers at dcrefers.org or the voluntary Bar Association of the District of Columbia at [email protected], 我可以在电话里告诉你,你的问题是应该找靠谱的滚球平台讨论,还是建议你直接找靠谱的滚球平台咨询. These lawyer referral services charge a small fee for their service, but it is very affordable.

Ultimately, whether you need a lawyer is a question you will have to answer for yourself, but here are some ideas to help you make your decision.

Handling the Problem Yourself

你的问题可能是你更愿意在找靠谱的滚球平台之前自己解决的. Or, it may be one where the amount of money in dispute is small enough that it does not make sense to use a lawyer. Often it makes more sense to try to get the problem solved without going to court.

You should keep a written record or journal of all your attempts to solve the problem.

If You Are Trying to Rectify a Problem

You might want to start with the source of the problem. If you are unhappy with the services of a professional, such as an insurance salesperson, real estate agent, investment broker, or accountant, then that person, or his or her supervisor, should be the first one you try to negotiate with for a solution. Similarly, if you are unhappy with a product, you should turn to the business that sold it to resolve your complaint. Many businesses have customer service representatives to deal with complaints.

You may seek assistance from your local government’s consumer protection agency by visiting the District of Columbia Office of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs or calling 202-442-4400. 一些电视和广播电台有消费者权益倡导者,他们会调查消费者的投诉. Some professions, such as accounting, law, and real estate and investment brokering, 是否有专业的牌照委员会调查投诉,并在合理的情况下施加处罚. The D.C. 靠谱的滚球平台公会的刊物亦可透过社区办事处索取,电话:202-626-3463,以协助你处理消费者问题或小额索偿事宜.

如果你认为你已经受伤或你的财产已经损坏,损害赔偿金额是5美元,000 or less, you can usually file a lawsuit with the D.C. Superior Court Small Claims and Conciliation Branch at 500 Indiana Avenue NW (Judiciary Square Metro stop). The filing procedures are simple, the fees are small, and court clerks will assist you in filling out the forms. In addition, many people represent themselves in Small Claims Court. If you go to Small Claims Court, bring along documentation of your damages such as medical bills, car repair bills, or pay records documenting lost income.

If Someone Sues You

如果你在小额索赔法庭上代表自己,在一个案件中,你被起诉,你认为你不欠你被起诉的金额, bring in any evidence that shows you do not owe the amount claimed. For example, if you have already paid the amount you owe, bring in proof of payment such as a canceled check. When you go to Small Claims Court, be prepared to attempt an out-of-court settlement with the other side with the help of a court-appointed mediator. The Small Claims Court mediation program, called the Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Program, is mandatory. The phone number is 202-879-1549. You cannot pursue your case in court until mediation has failed. If you can mediate or reach a settlement informally, before you start really litigating in court, all the better. (If and when you do hire a lawyer, he or she will likely attempt to negotiate a settlement anyway; therefore, you will save time if you do it yourself. Plus, you will save money on attorneys and keep more of the settlement to yourself.)

Even if negotiation or mediation does not resolve the dispute, you will at least have evidence describing your efforts to resolve the issue, which may be helpful later on.

The D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center has a Pro-Se-Plus Divorce Clinic open to anyone seeking an uncontested divorce in the District of Columbia, regardless of income. You may register for this clinic with the Clerk’s Office for the Domestic Relations Branch at D.C. Superior Court, 500 Indiana Avenue NW (Judiciary Square Metro stop).

There is one other resource that deserves mention here. The D.C. Bar公益中心有一条法律信息帮助热线,提供英语和西班牙语的录音信息,内容涉及30个法律领域的基本信息. It also provides current information about which legal service providers are open to take in which kinds of problems. 去年,法律信息帮助热线接到了14500多个法律信息咨询电话.

Collecting Information

Whether you decide to try to handle a dispute yourself or get a lawyer to help you, you should gather information and documents about your problem. If something happened, such as an auto accident, you should gather the information while the event is still fresh in your mind. The information and documents will help you make a complaint to a government agency, present your case in court, or inform your lawyer about the facts that he or she will need to advise you.

First, WRITE DOWN everything you know about the situation. Do not worry about your grammar or your penmanship. You can always rewrite or edit your writing later. To the best of your ability, write down everything you know, saw, or remember. Use the language that makes you feel most comfortable. Be complete and, above all, be truthful. Whenever possible, include dates of events and names of any possible witnesses.

Keep a JOURNAL so you can update your account and include any additional information that you think of or that develops. If you cannot write, have someone else write your words down for you, or tape-record or videotape yourself.

Give as much detail as you can. Dates, locations, time of day, and other details can be vital information. You need to put everything on paper while things are fresh in your mind. Gather as many helpful documents as you can: receipts, bills, letters, broken pieces of the item you bought, drawings, tax returns—anything. All these things can become valuable evidence if you carefully identify and organize them.

Hiring a Lawyer

在找靠谱的滚球平台之前,了解靠谱的滚球平台是如何收费的是很重要的.

How Lawyers Charge for Their Services

Lawyers charge for their services in a number of ways, but the typical fee arrangements are hourly fees, flat fees, and contingent fees.

As the term suggests, an hourly fee is the fee the lawyer charges for each hour worked on the particular matter. Defending a lawsuit, negotiating a settlement of a dispute, 在有争议的离婚或监护权案件中代表客户通常按小时计费.

Hourly rates vary depending on the lawyer and the nature of the work involved. A low hourly rate is not necessarily a bargain. 你应该考虑靠谱的滚球平台的专业知识和经验,以决定每小时的费率是否合理,以处理你的特定问题.

如果所提供的服务相对简单,而且完成任务所需的时间很容易计算,靠谱的滚球平台通常会收取固定费用. For example, lawyers typically charge a flat fee for preparing a simple will, when representing a client at a real estate closing, or in a personal bankruptcy.

Personal injury cases, worker’s compensation cases, and Social Security disability cases are typically handled on a contingent fee basis. This means that the lawyer’s fees are based on the amount of money recovered on your behalf. This arrangement is typically offered where the lawyer is willing to share the risks that no recovery will be obtained. It is important for you to ask the attorney who offers this type of fee arrangement whether costs associated with the case, other than attorney fees, are the responsibility of the lawyer or the client, and whether these costs are deducted from the recovery before or after the lawyer takes his or her percentage share for attorney fees.

For example, 一些靠谱的滚球平台向客户收取代表客户达成和解的33.33%的费用. That means that if the lawyer were to recover $30,000 in the settlement of a dispute, he or she would receive $10,000 as lawyer fees, whether it took one hour or 100 hours to resolve the matter. 除非你和靠谱的滚球平台在代理开始时就说清楚在扣除所有费用后,靠谱的滚球平台将获得和解金的33.1 /3, the lawyer will get $10,000 and you will get $20,000 minus all the costs incurred in the case.

You may believe that you are unable to pay some or all of the legal fees most lawyers charge. There are some organizations that provide free legal services for low-income clients. Also, some lawyers and legal organizations make legal services available to moderate-income clients at reduced fees. 本网站的下一部分包括如何找到免费或收费较低的法律服务的一些建议.

Finding a Lawyer

There are many ways to find a lawyer, including:

  • The D.C. Bar公益中心的法律信息帮助热线记录了30个法律主题的信息,并提供了寻找靠谱的滚球平台的其他可用信息来源的参考. The telephone number is 202-626-3499. The Help Line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Legal directories such as Martindale-Hubbell, West Legal Directory, and others are available in some local public libraries. You may check the location and availability of these references on the internet at District of Columbia Public Library’s Catalog on the Web. Various voluntary bar associations, such as the Women’s Bar Association of D.C., the National Bar Association, the Hispanic Bar Association of D.C., LGBT Bar Association of the District of Columbia, and the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association, 也有列出他们的靠谱的滚球平台成员的目录,可以在当地大学法律图书馆或组织办公室找到.
  • Referral services. 哥伦比亚特区的靠谱的滚球平台协会有一个靠谱的滚球平台推荐服务,可以把你推荐给能够帮助你解决问题的靠谱的滚球平台. The email address is [email protected]. You will receive a one-hour consultation for a small fee and if your case has merit, that consulting attorney may consider taking on your case for representation. Another resource for finding a lawyer is through DC Refers, which sponsors an online listing of qualified lawyers who are willing to represent modest-means clients at below-market rates. You may view the directory at dcrefers.org. Other organizations may provide referrals to specific communities or constituencies. You can find a list of local legal services providers at LawHelp.org/dc.
  • 曾经请过某个靠谱的滚球平台的朋友和亲戚通常是最好的推荐来源,因为他们与那个靠谱的滚球平台有过个人经历,可以告诉你他们是否满意.
  • Ask a lawyer you know. You may know a lawyer but that lawyer does not handle the type of case you have. Still, 靠谱的滚球平台了解其他靠谱的滚球平台,熟悉他们的专业领域和他们是否胜任.
  • Other professionals, such as real estate agents, mental health professionals, accountants, and stock brokers, who have occasion to deal with lawyers professionally, 对于一个有能力处理你所遇到的问题的靠谱的滚球平台来说,这是一个很好的引荐来源吗.
  • Yellow Pages. The Yellow Page directory has lawyers listed alphabetically. It also groups lawyers by practice area. 你可以在执业区列表中查找处理你遇到的这类问题的靠谱的滚球平台. You should consider lawyer ads the same way you would consider any other advertisement. What is the ad really telling you?
  • Insurance companies. Many people know that their auto insurer will defend them after an auto accident, but many people do not know that their homeowner’s insurance carrier will defend them if they are being sued for certain kinds of cases. If a dispute involves property that might potentially be insured, call the insurance carrier to see if you are entitled to be defended. If so, the insurer will find you a lawyer.
  • Charitable organizations, religious organizations, civic groups, and community organizations. 这些组织通常有一名或多名活跃在组织中的靠谱的滚球平台,他们可能能够在你需要的特定实践领域找到靠谱的滚球平台.
  • Your employer or your employer’s lawyer may be able to recommend a lawyer. But, do not approach them if your problem relates to your job.

Several legal service providers in the District of Columbia represent low-income people, and a list of these organization can be found at LawHelp.org/dc. The Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia at 202-628-1200 represents low-income defendants in criminal cases and trials. Many of these organizations and services are listed in the phone book under “legal” or under government listings. In addition, the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center runs a monthly Advice & Referral Clinic on the second Saturday of the month at Bread for the City’s Northwest Center, 1525 7th Street NW in the Shaw neighborhood and at Bread for the City’s Southeast Center, 1640 Good Hope Road SE in Anacostia.

Law schools also run clinics where professors supervise students who work on cases and represent people at no charge. 你可以联系任何地区的法律学校,看看诊所目前是否接受你的案件类型.

How to Select a Lawyer

Once you have identified one or more lawyers you may want to hire, 你应该给每个人打电话,和靠谱的滚球平台谈5到10分钟,看看他或她是否能处理你遇到的那种问题, 并获得额外的信息,这将有助于你决定是否要来预约. Be advised that getting this information may require some extra effort on your part. 给靠谱的滚球平台一个问题的简要描述,并询问靠谱的滚球平台是否有这方面的经验. Find out whether the lawyer charges an hourly fee, a flat fee, or a contingent fee and what the hourly rate, flat fee, or contingent percentage is. Ask if the lawyer charges for an initial consultation and, if so, how much. Get a feel for whether you think you can get along with the lawyer. If you are satisfied so far, make an appointment.

This first phone conversation is also an opportunity for the lawyer to decide if your case is one he or she might want. If it is not, the lawyer can save you the trouble and expense of coming in. If the lawyer does tell you on the telephone that he or she is unable to represent you, ask for a referral to another lawyer. 靠谱的滚球平台可能是进行此类推荐的最佳人选,因为他们通常知道哪些靠谱的滚球平台处理特殊事务,哪些靠谱的滚球平台在该领域有能力.

In deciding whether to hire a lawyer, there are several things you should know. First, any lawyer practicing in the District of Columbia must be licensed in the District of Columbia. To obtain a license, the lawyer must have graduated from an accredited law school, passed a bar examination, and completed a limited background investigation. “Licensed” means the lawyer is permitted to practice law in the place where he or she works. Some lawyers are licensed in more than one place. 获得执业许可的人有时也被称为靠谱的滚球平台协会成员. Ask if the lawyer you are considering hiring is a member of the D.C. Bar. You can check if the person is currently a member in good standing of the D.C. Bar by calling the D.C. Bar’s Membership Office at 202-626-3475, or by using the D.C. Bar’s website to find a member. 您也可以致电202-638-1501与靠谱的滚球平台靠谱的滚球平台办公室联系,查看是否有任何针对该靠谱的滚球平台的投诉或纪律处分程序, or visit the D.C. Bar’s online attorney discipline database.

Many lawyers concentrate, or specialize, in one or more areas of law practice. Unlike the medical profession, however, in the District of Columbia there is only one certified legal specialty—patent law. You should know that a lawyer does not have to take any additional steps in order to say he or she “specializes” in employment law, for instance. There are no special tests or courses to take, as there are for doctors who “specialize” in heart surgery, for example. The only thing a lawyer who "specializes" in employment law has to do is spend a lot of time doing those types of cases.

Your problem, however, may not need a “specialist.” If your problem is one where the stakes are fairly low (for example, you are being sued by a creditor in Small Claims Court), it may not be worth your money to hire a specialist. If your problem is not particularly difficult (e.g., you want an uncontested divorce and there are no minor children and no property to fight over), you may not need a specialist. (Keep in mind that pensions are considered property.) On the other hand, if your problem is difficult or complex, or the stakes are very high, you may need the greater expertise a specialist can provide. 你可能希望打电话或咨询一般执业靠谱的滚球平台和专家,以确定你真正需要哪种类型的靠谱的滚球平台.

No matter who you decide to interview, 你应该向靠谱的滚球平台询问他或她处理类似问题的背景和经验. This is particularly important if you are considering hiring a specialist. Because any lawyer can claim to be a “specialist,” you should make sure you are indeed getting an expert.

Some of the questions you might ask are:

  • Where are you licensed to practice law?
  • What is your legal experience?
  • How many cases or matters of this type have you handled?
  • What percentage of your practice is in this area of the law?

At your initial consultation, 你也应该和靠谱的滚球平台谈谈你的问题,听听靠谱的滚球平台对如何解决问题的看法. Is the lawyer’s approach to suggest ways of resolving the problem out of court, or is the lawyer more interested in pursuing an aggressive lawsuit, even when you may not want it? You should also ask about the lawyer's approach to working with you. 靠谱的滚球平台是否会根据他或她对如何处理你的问题的看法来负责并勇往直前, or will the lawyer explain things to you, answer all your questions, and involve you in the process? Some of your questions may be:

  • How would you approach resolving my problem?
  • Are there things I should do to improve my situation?
  • What can I expect to happen over the next few weeks, the next few months, and until the conclusion of the matter?
  • How long do you estimate it will take to conclude this matter?
  • Will you send me copies of correspondence and court filings?
  • Are there any deadlines I should know about?

Based on the answers to these and other questions, you need to decide whether this lawyer is the one for you. Do you believe that you can work with this person? Is the approach practical and sensible? Is he or she going to let you participate in the process as much as you want?

At the first consultation, you should talk with the attorney about fees. If the matter will be handled for a flat fee, ask what charges are included and what are not. For example, you may be quoted a flat fee for preparing a simple will. You should ask whether there are additional estate-planning services the lawyer offers and how much those services cost.

If the matter is to be charged on an hourly basis, can the lawyer estimate what the total fee will be? Can he or she estimate what the fees will be for different outcomes, such as a settlement before filing suit or taking the case to trial? This can help you anticipate how much you will have to pay in legal fees.

If the attorney’s fees are to be a percentage of the recovery, what percentage will the lawyer charge? Will the client be responsible for paying costs? What is included in “costs”? Will the lawyer take his or her percentage before or after costs are deducted? Will the percentage be different according to when the case ends? MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE FEES BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO HIRE A LAWYER.

If the lawyer will be charging you either a flat fee or an hourly rate, you likely will have to pay money up front. This is a fee advance (sometimes incorrectly called a “retainer”) which is credited against the fees you will owe the lawyer. You should find out how much the lawyer wants up front and whether the fee advance must be paid before the work begins. Do not assume the lawyer will begin work right away before you have paid any money. You should also discuss whether the lawyer expects you to pay your bill in full each month or whether you can pay over time. Some lawyers will accept monthly payments and others expect to be paid in full each month. Ask questions and find out.

D.C. legal ethics rules require that all fee arrangements with first-time clients be put in writing. 最好在靠谱的滚球平台为你处理的每一件事情上都有一份书面费用协议. 该文件应明确说明靠谱的滚球平台已被聘请处理什么和费用是多少. It should state how much you must pay the lawyer before work begins and when and in what amounts further payments are due. 它还应该解释任何不包括在费用中的内容,例如自付费用(例如.g., copying, postage). If you are being charged a flat fee, the agreement should state what is included in the flat fee and what is not. A written agreement helps prevent misunderstandings later. 你应该要求任何你正在考虑聘请的靠谱的滚球平台为你提供一份书面收费协议.

Additional Sources of Information

Again, the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center’s Legal Information Help Line at 202-626-3499 provides recorded messages on 30 topics in five areas of law (family, consumer, public benefits, employment, and housing), and gives information about the availability of free legal services. The recordings are in English and Spanish.

The D.C. 靠谱的滚球平台社区办公室也有各种主题的小册子,如“我如何保护我作为靠谱的滚球平台的权利?.C. Consumer?” and “What to Expect in D.C. Small Claims Court.” Call 202-626-3463 for more information about what is available.

The American Bar Association also produces helpful publications. One such publication is Finding the Right Lawyer by Jay G. Foonberg (American Bar Association, 1995). 这是一个实用的指南,为消费者提供了如何评估靠谱的滚球平台资格的建议, what questions to ask at the first meeting, information to help you figure out what kind of lawyer you need, and ideas on how to find the right lawyer for your particular circumstances. The cost is $14.99美元,可以在当地书店买到,或者你可以拨打1-800-285-2221向美国靠谱的滚球平台协会订购.

What You Can Expect from Your Lawyer and What Your Lawyer Can Expect from You

As a client, you have certain rights. They include the following:

  • Confidentiality. Your conversations with your lawyer and any documents or information you give your lawyer are required to be kept private. Your lawyer should not discuss your private business with anyone outside of the lawyer’s firm, including the lawyer’s spouse. 这也适用于你在寻求代理时与靠谱的滚球平台的任何初步对话, regardless of whether or not you hire him or her.
  • Competence. You have a right to expect your lawyer to handle your matter competently. This does not mean he or she will know all the answers. It means your lawyer should know where to go to find the answers and devote the attention to your matter that it deserves.
  • Honesty. You should expect your lawyer to tell you the truth and to handle any funds of yours in a completely trustworthy manner.
  • Loyalty. 你的靠谱的滚球平台不应该有任何利益冲突,这会导致他或她的忠诚在你和另一个对你的事情的结果感兴趣的人之间分裂. 这可以防止靠谱的滚球平台有任何关系或其他利益妨碍他或她完全忠于你的利益. This means, for example, 靠谱的滚球平台通常不能代表司机和乘客在由车祸引起的诉讼中,因为两者的利益可能有冲突.
  • Information. 您有权随时了解您的问题的进展情况并得到您的问题的答复. 你应该毫不犹豫地向你的靠谱的滚球平台提问,你应该期待你的问题得到回答. 许多靠谱的滚球平台会例行公事地把所有进出办公室的信件、所有法庭文件和案件中产生的其他文件的副本发给客户. Ask any lawyer you are considering hiring whether that is his or her practice. If you want to receive copies of everything, let your lawyer know.
  • Responsiveness. Your phone calls should be answered in a timely fashion.

Your lawyer also expects certain things from you in order to handle your case most effectively. They include:

  • Honesty. Just as you have a right to expect honesty, so does your lawyer. You should provide your lawyer with full and complete information about your matter, including, especially, information that may be bad for your case. Remember that the lawyer must keep this information confidential. Your lawyer cannot represent you well if you hold back or lie about the facts.
  • Cooperation. You and your lawyer must work together as a team. You cannot simply turn your problems over and expect him or her to call you when it is resolved. Gather the documents the lawyer asks for, fill out the forms, write down what happened, gather the names and addresses of witnesses, and try to follow the lawyer’s advice. 与靠谱的滚球平台合作的客户通常会比不合作的客户获得更好的结果. If you do not cooperate, your lawyer may withdraw from the case and you will have to find another lawyer.
  • Payment of Fees. If you have agreed to pay fees or costs, your lawyer expects you to comply with your agreement.

What If You Are Unhappy with Your Lawyer or Dispute the Fee?

Sometimes the lawyer you first choose turns out to be a dud, and you want to fire him or her and hire someone else. 作为当事人,你有绝对的权利在任何时候解雇你的靠谱的滚球平台,不管有没有理由.

However, you and the lawyer may be able resolve the problems you are having. If you have a complaint or are unhappy about something, have a frank discussion with your lawyer and explain your point of view. Ask the lawyer to explain the things you do not understand. You should receive satisfactory answers to your questions. If the problem was the result of a misunderstanding, perhaps the lawyer–client relationship can be preserved.

If you are still not satisfied after talking the problem out with your lawyer, you should seriously consider changing lawyers. Whether to do so depends on a number of things. Is the lawyer handling your case incompetently, neglecting to do things that need to be done, missing deadlines frequently, or repeatedly showing up late to court and making the judge angry? Or is the lawyer doing a competent job but your personalities clash? You have a right to change lawyers even over a clash in personality, 但是,你必须权衡一下,换靠谱的滚球平台对你来说有多重要,而让新靠谱的滚球平台了解你的情况所带来的额外成本和不便. If an important court date, such as a trial or a pretrial conference, is coming up soon, changing lawyers at this stage will be very risky and difficult. 因此,如果你对你的靠谱的滚球平台有疑问,你应该尽早解决他们,而不是等待. Otherwise, as a practical matter you may not be able to change lawyers. 如果你的案件在法庭上悬而未决,靠谱的滚球平台将需要法庭的许可才能退出你的案件. 如果你在最后一刻找不到愿意介入此案的靠谱的滚球平台,你可能会找不到靠谱的滚球平台.

If you believe your lawyer has acted in an unethical manner, you may file a complaint with the Office of Bar Counsel, 515 5th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, or call 202-638-1501. 大靠谱的滚球平台将调查你的投诉,并决定是否起诉该靠谱的滚球平台. More information on the Office of Bar Counsel and filing a complaint is available on the D.C. Bar’s website.

In certain instances where a lawyer has stolen client funds, the client may receive some reimbursement through the D.C. Bar Clients’ Security Fund. For more information, call the D.C. Bar at 202-737-4700, ext. 237, or visit the Clients' Security Fund online.

If you have a disagreement with your lawyer about how much you owe him or her, or how much you have previously paid your lawyer, you can seek arbitration of the dispute through the Attorney/Client Arbitration Board (ACAB) as an alternative to filing a lawsuit in court. For more information, call the D.C. Bar at 202-737-4700, ext. 238, or visit the Attorney/Client Arbitration Board. Generally, arbitration is voluntary. But court rules require D.C. lawyers in most instances to arbitrate fee disputes at the client’s request. Staff at the ACAB can advise you about your option to request arbitration.

Helpful Phone Numbers

American Bar Association Consumer Publications 1-800-285-2221
Bar Association of D.C. Lawyer Referral Service [email protected]
D.C. Bar Attorney/Client Arbitration Board 202-780-2779
D.C. Bar Clients’ Security Fund 202-780-2772
D.C. Bar Membership Office 202-626-3475
D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center Legal Information Help Line 202-626-3499
D.C. Bar Communities Office Publications
DC Refers Online Lawyer Directory
202-626-3463
D.C. Office of Bar Counsel 202-638-1501
D.C. Office of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs 202-442-4400
D.C. Superior Court Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Program 202-879-1549
Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia 202-628-1200

The Law Practice Management Community of the D.C. Bar would like to thank its former chairman, Peter Wolk, for his work on the revisions to this booklet, for arranging for outside readers, and for the original translations of this booklet. The Community thanks Lydia Watts, Esquire, Executive Director of WEAVE, and Judy Conti, Esquire, Executive Director of the DC Employment Justice Center for their review and insightful edits as outside readers. The Community further thanks Mr. Edgar Soto for his expertise in preparing the translation of this booklet into Spanish, and Jose Gonzalez-Magaz of Steptoe & Johnson LLP and Mariano Wolff of Kirkland & Ellis LLP for their expertise in reviewing and finalizing the Spanish translation. To obtain printed copies, contact the D.C. Bar Communities Office at 202-626-3463.

The Law Practice Management Community of the D.C. Bar would like to thank the following people for their help in preparing the first edition of this booklet: Nancy Karkowsky, Lilliam Machado, Linda Ravdin, James Sandman, Eric Siegel, Nicholas Cobbs, Peter Wolk, and other members of the community for their efforts in producing this publication.

*本文所表达的观点仅代表美国靠谱的滚球平台执业管理协会的观点.C. Bar, and not those of the D.C. Bar or its Board of Governors.

Finding Free Legal Help

There are a number of programs that provide free legal help to low- and moderate-income D.C. residents.

Knowing your legal rights is a good first step in finding out the type of help you need. You can find free information about a wide range of topics, including housing law, family law, employment law, immigration law, and public benefits law, at LawHelp.org/DC.

LawHelp.org/DC也可以帮你找到一个免费的法律服务项目,也许可以帮助你解决你的问题. The website contains an online search form which allows you to identify what type of legal problem you have, as well as other factors that may apply to you (for example, if you are over 60, or an immigrant, or HIV-positive). When you click “submit” on the form, you will get a customized list of programs that may be able to help you. 对于每个组织,您可以看到收入限制,联系信息,以及接收时间和地点.

You can also browse through a complete online directory of legal assistance programs on LawHelp.org/DC.

LawHelp.org/DC is a project of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center in collaboration with the D.C. Consortium of Legal Service Providers. LawHelp.org/DC provides general information only. Information provided is not legal advice, which can only be obtained from a lawyer. LawHelp.org/DC makes every effort to keep all materials up to date, but laws change frequently. Therefore LawHelp.org/DC does not guarantee the accuracy of this information.

LawHelp.org/DC is not an attorney advertisement, solicitation, or email advice service.

By clicking any of the links in this community, you are leaving the D.C. Bar’s website. The D.C. Bar is not responsible for any information posted on the LawHelp.org/DC website.

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