Hiring a Lawyer as Coach
Lawyers are finally recognizing that some clients need just a little help.
Ten years ago, trying to find a lawyer who would help you find your own way through the legal system was next to impossible. This is because, traditionally, attorneys have either taken on overall responsibility for a client's case or declined to get involved. But nothing in between.
Even today, many lawyers will not go for the legal coach arrangement because they do not want to get involved in what they see as the messy world of self-representation or risk being legally liable if you make a mistake. Fortunately, given the surplus of lawyers and a gradual change in the profession's attitude toward self-helpers, it's becoming much easier to find a lawyer who will act as your coach.
How to Find a Lawyer Coach
Ask at your local courthouses, bar associations, and law schools for names of any clinics that may be able to help you. Search the Web for advertisements of legal coaching services. But as you look for a lawyer to help you, recognize that law is an increasingly specialized field: You'll want to find someone who is knowledgeable about your type of problem -- not just any cooperative lawyer.
Personal Referrals
To accomplish this, the best approach is to get a referral from someone else who has worked with lawyers in your area of the law. For example, if you're opening a small business and want to find an appropriate lawyer to provide occasional guidance, you might ask the owners of excellent local businesses whom they work with.
Nolo's Lawyer Directory
Nolo offers a unique lawyer directory that provides a comprehensive profile for each attorney with information that will help you select the right attorney. The profiles tell you about the lawyer's experience, education, and fees, and perhaps most importantly, the lawyer's general philosophy of practicing law and whether the lawyer is willing to act as your legal coach. For more information, see lawyers.nolo.com.
Interviewing a Prospective Lawyer
Once you have a few names, make and pay for a first appointment (lawyers will respect you less if you ask for a free consultation). Come right out and ask the lawyer if she is prepared to help you help yourself. If the answer is yes, discuss how much the lawyer will charge and how you can work together to keep fees down. For example, if instead of calling your lawyer three times with one question each time, you wait and ask all three at once, you'll almost surely use less of the lawyer's time. And if you can fax or email your questions so your lawyer can answer them when she has a free moment, chances are you'll save even more.
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