12 Questions To Ask Your Lawyer

Selecting the right lawyer, who will both suit your budget and follow an approach you are comfortable with, greatly increases the likelihood of a satisfactory resolution of your legal matter. The following list of questions to ask before you hire a lawyer should assist you in deciding which lawyer to retain. These questions could be asked over the telephone or in an initial interview:

1. How long have you been practising in this area of law?

2. What are the possible results of my matter?

3. How long will it take to complete my matter?

4. What alternatives exist for resolving my matter?

5. What are your rates or fees and how are they calculated?

6. How often will I be billed?

7. What is an estimate for the total cost of my matter, including fees and expenses?

8. Can articling students or paralegals assist with my matter to keep costs down?

9. How will your office let me know what is happening with my matter?

10. Will you encourage settlement or take an aggressive approach to resolve issues?

11. Who else in the office will work on my matter?

12. What information can I provide to assist in resolving my matter?

Natalie Fraser practised law in Whitby, Ontario for seventeen years and is now a freelance legal writer. She often writes for The Lawyers Weekly.