10 TIPS on how to SAVE on Legal Fees

The key to keeping your Legal Fees down is understanding how Lawyers charge for their work.  Lawyers charge on an hourly basis.  Each hour is divided into 10 units (1 unit therefore comprises 6 minutes).  Some Law Firms also charge for secretarial and clerical work.

Most of the work is carried out behind the scene.  When you call your Lawyer, you will be charged for the time spent on the call as well as the time spent locating the file and making a file note.  When a Lawyer writes a letter, it must be proof read and may require amendments.   Your are charged for the behind the scene work.

                       "One 6 minute telephone call to your Lawyer is cheaper than 6 one minute calls"

1.  Choose your Lawyer carefully

Chooing a Lawyer from the internet or the phone book is not the best method.  Look for those Lawyers who have expertise in the area of Law covering your matter.  Specialists are accredited by the Law Society of NSW after passing a rigorous qualifying process and they are proven to have very high level of skills and experience in their field of Law.  Ask around, speak to friends and family about their lawyers - they are well placed to tell you how their lawyer performed.

2.  Don't choose on price

Lawyers who charge a higher hourly rate may not necessarily be more expensive.  Specialist Lawyers tend to complete tasks much faster therefore the final cost may be the same as another Lawyer who charges at a lower rate but takes a longer time to complete your matter.  Choose on recommendations and skills and not on price.

3.  Reduce the number of times you call or meet with your Lawyer

Try to touch base with your Lawyer on a weekly basis rather than constantly ringing your Lawyer.  Make notes of the matters you wish to discuss with your Lawyer and discuss them all at your weekly phone conference.  Several short phone calls cost you more money than one long phone call.

4.  Provide information and documents quickly

Your Lawyer will need information and documents to properly prepare your case.  Providing these quickly will reduce delay.  Putting the material in a systematic order will help your Lawyer and reduce the time he or she spends sorting through them and collating them.  Providing material in piecemeal fashion and haphazard order will increase your costs.

5.  Give your Lawyer all of the material

Failing to give your Lawyer information or documents which are relevant to the case means that your Lawyer will not be able to properly prepare your case.  Telling your Lawyer an important fact or about an additional witness outside the Court on the morning of your hearing is too late.  Incomplete documentation, missing pages or simply failing to inform your Lawyer of important facts will create more work for your Lawyer and increase your costs.

6.  Do as much as you can

There are many things which you can do yourself and thus avoid being charged by your Lawyer for doing them.  Ask you Lawyer to let you do as much as possible.

7.  Let your Lawyer do the Legal work

There are many matters and tasks which involve legal skill and knowledge.  Leave these to your Lawyer.  Many clients think they can save money writing their own letters and getting the Lawyer to proof read the letters.  This is actually more costly than getting the Lawyer to write the letter in the first place.  

8.  Follow Legal advice and instructions

Your Lawyer is highly trained and will endeavour to give you the best legal advice and also provide guidance as to how to properly prepare and conduct your case.  Failing to follow advice or instructions will lead to delays and repetition of work which will increase your costs.  If you doubt your Lawyer's advice, do not hesitate to obtain a second opinion.  If you have lost confidence in your Lawyer, get a new one!

9.  Settle your case

You may want your day in Court and to be vindicated but Court hearings are very expensive.  Settling a dispute is much cheaper and may help preserve relationships not only with those you are fighting but also those close to you.  Legal disputes puts enormous stress on relationships with your friends, colleagues, family and those closest to you.  Make reasonable offers of settlement and also seriously consider any reasonable offers of settlement made by the other side.

10.  Be patient

The Legal System is complex and often there are rules and procedures which must be followed.  The process is time consuming and in most instances there are no short cuts.  Trying to jump ahead or failing to follow the proper procedures will result in delays and added costs.  Allow the processes to take place and your matter will be completed faster.  Be patient!

Contact us to arrange an appointment with one of our Lawyers.

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