Practice checklist

AuthorStewart I. Edelstein
ProfessionCommercial trial lawyer
Pages399-422
399
PRACTICE CHECKLISTS
❖❖❖❖
Dealing with Clients
•Completeaconflictscheckbeforeundertakinganyrepresentation.
•Bewareofscamsinundertakinganyrepresentation.
•Declineaprospectiverepresentationifredflagsareraised.
•Ifyoudeclinetherepresentation,putitinwriting.
•Beforedoingsubstantivework,obtainawrittenretaineragreement.
•Consideralternativefeearrangements:
 reducedhourlywithperformancebonus
 blendedrate
 fixedfee
 contingentfee
 retrospectivefeebasedonresult
 straightretainer
 volumediscount
•Ifyouundertaketherepresentation,meetpromptlywiththeclientat
yourclient’splaceofbusinessoryouroffice.
•Atthefirstclientmeeting:
 establishrapport
 explaintheattorney-clientprivilege
 explainthepurposeofthemeeting
 getnecessaryinformation
 discussthedocumentlitigationholdrequirement
 getacommitmentthattheclientwilldevotetheresources
youneed (continued)
9781634256926_checklist.indd 39923/12/16 12:24 PM
400 | How to Succee d as a Trial L awyer
 discussoptions
 don’tpredictoutcomewithspecificity
 discussyourfee
 warnyourclientaboutcommunicatingaboutthecaseand
preservingtheattorney-clientprivilege
 askformoreinformation
•Meet w ith all represent atives of your client fro m whom you need
information.
•Earlyintherepresentation,obtainthedocumentsyouneed.
•Ifyoutakethecase,informtheclientwhatmustbedone;arrangefor
thehelpyouwillneedfromsupportstaff,experts,andothers;develop
anoverallstrategy;andfollowthrough.
•Workcollaborativelywithyourclient.
•Manageclientexpectationsastotime,cost,andresult.
•Dealwithdifficultclientsbyunderstandingwhatconcernscausethem
tobedifficult.
•When yo u need to delive r bad news to a c lient, do so pr omptly, be
direct in expl aining the signif icance o f what happen ed, and disc uss
optionsinyourstrategygoingforward.
•Inpreparingyourclienttotestifyincourt,tailoryourpreparationto
theexperience,sophistication,andpersonalityofyourclient,follow-
ingthetipsinthetext.
•Beconscientiousaboutcapturingandrecordingyourbillableandnon-
billabletimeeachday.
•Afteryouhavecompletedyourrepresentation,sendalettertothecli-
enttothateffectand,ifyouhavenotdonesoalready,informtheclient
ofotherservicesyourfirmprovides.
9781634256926_checklist.indd 40023/12/16 12:24 PM

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