Smart Communication with Your Attorney Matters
Hiring an attorney for a family law matter means entering into an
ongoing working relationship. Without clear and consistent communication, you
risk inefficiencies, miss opportunities, and increase legal costs. This blog
will explain how to prepare for your case, stay informed, and remain efficient
throughout the process without racking up unnecessary legal fees.
Understand the Nature of the Legal Relationship
While many family law cases can often be long and complex, the goal
is for you and your attorney to work together as a team to resolve your dispute
as quickly and efficiently as possible. It is important to hire an attorney you
trust and allow them to do their job.
Keep in mind that your lawyer is managing
court appearances and deadlines for multiple cases, so they cannot always be available to provide undivided attention to your case. At larger firms, paralegals and legal
assistants can be valuable points of contact to reduce costs and help resolve
minor issues when your attorney is not available.
Time is Money
Lawyers charge for the time they spend working on your case. In
order to keep costs to a minimum, avoid frequent, fragmented calls and/or emails.
It is cheaper to send 1 email with 10 questions than sending 10 separate emails
with 1 question each. If you're looking to save money, ask your legal team what simple tasks you might be able to do to help reduce your legal bill.
Prepare Before Communicating with Your Lawyer
Whether you're communicating by phone, email, or in person, it's
important to make each interaction with your attorney as productive as
possible. Before a scheduled call or meeting, take the time to create an agenda
outlining the topics you wish to discuss and any questions you have. Sending
this agenda to your attorney in advance allows both of you to prepare and
ensures the conversation stays focused and efficient.
After the conversation, it is best practice to send a follow-up
email summarizing what was discussed and to confirm the next steps
in your case. For complex or sensitive matters, schedule a call rather than volleying emails back and forth.
Stick to the Plan and Be Responsive
Work with your attorney to build a strategic plan that you can
stick to. If your goals or situation change, promptly communicate any changes with
your legal team. Minimize delays and respond as quickly as reasonably possible,
since delays and unresponsiveness can increase cost.
Manage Emotions and Focus on What Matters
At M&T, we understand that divorce and family law matters often come with intense emotions. However, using your attorney as a sounding board can quickly become costly. If you're feeling overwhelmed, it's wise to seek support from a mental health professional. Staying focused on your legal goals, rather than emotional wins, will help you to use your time and resources most effectively. Avoid spending unnecessary time and money arguing over minor items or trying to "get even," as this often leads to greater stress and expense.
Use Available Resources to Educate Yourself
Over the years, M&T attorneys have learned that an educated
client is better prepared and more cost-efficient. For this reason, M&T
offers blogs, podcasts, guides, and thousands of webpages of information to help our clients understand the legal process. A client who understands
the basics of family law reduces client anxiety and lowers the amount of time the
lawyer spends explaining.