Choose the best lawyer for your needs
If you're looking for a lawyer to represent you in a legal matter, it's a good idea to ask them some questions when you first get in contact with them.
The answers they provide will help you feel confident (or otherwise) in their knowledge and previous experience. Questions about the lawyer's hours and costs will help you budget and avoid surprise expenses.
Questions to ask a lawyer
Ask your lawyer the following questions to find out if they're the right fit for your case.
Verify their skills and experience
What are your qualifications?
Lawyers must hold accredited qualifications and be registered to practise law in Victoria.
Do you have experience with my kind of problem?
If the lawyer has experience in the special needs of your business, they’re more likely to get the best result.
What kind of clients do you see most often?
If the lawyer already has clients in your industry , they'll have more knowledge about how to deal with your needs.
How do you do your research?
A professional will subscribe to research journals and services, so ask to look at these. Even if you've never heard of them before, flick through them to check if they're up to date.
Get an idea of the process and time involved
Can you begin work immediately?
If this is a problem, find out why.
What steps are involved in solving this problem?
Make sure you understand the specific details of each process.
Can you give me an estimate of the time likely to be involved?
Get a breakdown of how much time each step is likely to take.
Could you give me an honest assessment of my chances of success?
Find out if it would be better to try and negotiate a settlement?
Is there anything I can do to cut down the time you have to spend on the case?
Look for potential ways to reduce your costs.
Find out what protection and support they provide
Who will look after my business most of the time?
Find out how many partners there are and consider choosing a practice comparable in size to your business – sometimes smaller practices suit smaller businesses.
What sort of access will I have to the data you hold about my business?
Ask if you’ll have access to important information you might need – for example, notes of meetings and documentation.
Also find out what their cybersecurity policies are and if they have cybersecurity insurance.
Discussing your case with the lawyer
When you talk to the lawyer about your case:
- give the lawyer a clear picture of what your problem is and what you hope to achieve
- make it clear you want to be kept informed of all developments in the case
- mention if you think you may be entitled to legal aid or legal assistance from your union – not all lawyers take legal aid work or work that union lawyers can do
Prepare for your first meeting
To save time in your first meeting, assemble as many facts and documents related to your case as you can.
- Write a detailed account of everything you can remember – including dates if appropriate.
- List the expenses and attach documents to support them.
- Organise your information and take it with you when you meet with your lawyer.
Discuss all costs and billing
Make sure you get information about all legal costs, including:
- estimates of the total legal costs
- method of costing the legal service
- billing arrangements
The lawyer must provide this information before or as soon as practicable after being retained.
If your case involves family law proceedings, the lawyer must also give you a costs brochure prepared by the Family Court.