“Don’t tell me what you value, show me your budget, and I’ll tell you what you value.”
– Joe Biden
It’s true that not everyone can afford to hire a lawyer to handle their entire legal matter. It’s also true that many of those same people can afford some legal assistance. I have to come to believe that we are looking for value for our money. In family law, people want to know what they are going to get before shelling out their hard-earned dollars. While lawyers cannot guarantee success, they can (and should) be able to give you a sense of what value they bring to your legal matter.
Working with a lawyer on a limited scope or legal coaching basis allows you to get a sense of the lawyer’s work and whether it is the right “fit” for you (and them) without a huge commitment.
When you hire a lawyer on a limited scope basis, you may negotiate a flat fee for the task or you may pay by the hour, depending on the lawyer’s practice. Either way, you will have a sense of the amount you will spend. Once the lawyer delivers, you can decide whether you want to or need to retain the lawyer again on a separate task.
When you hire a lawyer on a legal coaching basis, the fees are determined up front. You can then decide how much to spend, when to spend it, and for what purpose.
Clients often end up finding more money in their budget for legal services once they see the value of what their money can buy them. Make sure you get value for your legal dollars.
Check back next week, ‘W’ is for …