Tom McCutcheon – Attorney at Law
From time to time I have discussed how lawyers are paid, either through an hourly basis or on a contingency fee contract which is what we do and is appropriate in personal injury cases where the lawyer risks his time and money in exchange for the privilege of representing injured people for a percentage of the recovery.
One of my favorite lawyer jokes is where a lady asks a lawyer “how much do you charge? The lawyer said “$50.00 for three questions.” The lady replied “isn’t that a lot?” The lawyer said “yes it is, what’s your last question?”
So, what does your lawyer owe you? The first thing is an absolute duty of confidentiality. There is certainly an obligation to know or research the area of the law that the client is concerned with. Lawyers have to work hard to understand all of the aspects of a case, including evidence issues, time and money concerns and the impression that the client or their witnesses will make on a judge and jury.
I think lawyers owe their clients the duty to be absolutely straight forward when talking about their case. I have had countless people come in and tell me that another lawyer had said that they didn’t have time to take their case. What that means is that there is no money in the case or the lawyer perceives that the client cannot afford his services. Occasionally, people just come in with motives that are just incompatible with the values that the lawyer feels comfortable working with. Tell the client why you will or will not take the case. Tell the client what value your service adds to the client’s issue at hand. Make the client feel comfortable with the issues in his or her case and if a deposition will be involved, talk with them about what a deposition is and let them read a deposition. Talk with them about what they will be asked and what they are afraid they will be asked. It’s the lawyer’s job to help the client be as effective as possible in presenting their case.
Your lawyer owes you the duty to be competent in the area of law where you need help and owes you the duty to put your interests first every time.
Buckle up and drive safely.
McCutcheon & Hamner, P.C.
2210 Helton Drive
Florence, Alabama 35630
Telephone: 256-764-0112
Facsimile: 256-349-2529
