I retained a lawyer last week over a petty matter and am clueless about how the lawyer will bill me. I have not been given any documents. What information should the lawyer give me?
Lawyer Answers (1): Answers from lawyers are general preliminary responses. They are not formal legal advice and cannot taken account of all your circumstances. They do not create a lawyer–client relationship.
Answer by Andrea Stein, Brisbane 4000 QLD
· By law your lawyer must disclose to you the following information:
o how your legal costs will be charged;
o your rights in regard to negotiating a costs agreement;
o your right to ask for an itemised bill within 30 days of receiving a lump sum account;
o an estimate of the total legal costs you are likely to incur;
o the rate of interest that your lawyer will charge on any outstanding costs;
o an estimate of the costs you could potentially recover from the opposing party should you succeed in your litigation action and conversely an estimate of the costs you may have to pay to the party if you do not succeed; and
o the avenues available to you should there be a dispute about any aspect of the bill.
· If you have not yet received a fee agreement you should ask your lawyer about these issues as soon as possible.