Frequently Asked Questions
The legal system has changed quite a bit in the past few years to recognize that more and more people try to represent themselves without a lawyer. This is often because of cost, or some people think that they’ve watched enough TV shows to try it themselves.
The reality is that the legal system can be fairly confusing, and difficult to navigate. If you try it on your own then you likely will not know what steps to take next, where to file certain documents, or what evidence you might need to support your case.It is always best to consult with a lawyer, simply because you often don’t know what you don’t know. When drafting a will, for example, a lawyer can look at your personal circumstances and explore estate planning options you may not think of, something a clickable fill-in-the-blank will template does not do.Similarly, pulling an employment contract off of a template site or borrowing one from a friend for a new hire will not be custom tailored to your business, and it will likely not protect you in the way that you think that it will.
This is usually the first question that clients ask, and the answer is never an easy one. A lawyer will never promise results because there are so many moving pieces that can come up during legal proceedings, especially if you have not told your lawyer all of the details.
During your consultation, it is important to be completely up-front and honest with your lawyer about all of the facts so that they can offer you an informed opinion, and proper advice based on your particular circumstances. That does not always mean that there is an obvious answer, but they’ll be able to provide you a full understanding of where your case may lead, and what a good result might look like.
Unfortunately no lawyer on the planet holds a Magic 8 ball. The legal process unfortunately can take some time, whether that’s negotiating with another lawyer while they get instructions from their clients, waiting for another party to respond, or even simple delays with courts or tribunals.
The good news is that we work efficiently with our clients to see results as quickly as possible while still making sure that all bases are covered. We know how important it is for you to see an end result and achieve that peace of mind, and we work with you to walk you through each step of the process and how we can expedite things.That said, we cannot do this alone. For us to work well together, we will need your full support, which means responding to emails in a timely way, making yourself available for telephone calls as needed, and providing any additional documents within a quick turnaround. Any delays on that end mean that it may take longer to resolve your matter.
Yes, we definitely can. Lamers Law is first and foremost a virtual firm, which means that you’re not paying for a brick and mortar office decorated with marble walls and expensive furniture. It also means that there is no distraction from overflowing bookcases and filing cabinets. We can gladly meet in person when necessary, but it’s rarely the most efficient way to do things.
We tailor our working style towards your needs. We can coordinate through email, virtually through zoom or other video conferences, or via telephone. We also understand that scheduling can be challenging, and are able to offer evening and weekend appointments several times a month to suit your schedule.
Yes, you can in most circumstances, however there are some things that you need to know first. Anything involving the law can be stressful for some people, and they often find it beneficial to have a friend, loved one, or support person there by their side to help keep them calm while they take in important information.
There are certain appointments, such as for discussions about wills, where you cannot bring in a support person. For other appointments such as a family law issue you can have a support person with you, but you need to understand the nature of lawyer-client confidentiality.The lawyer-client relationship exists between the lawyer and the client, but it does not extend to any third parties in the room. They are not covered under any lawyer-client privilege, and will likely be privy to some sensitive information during the meeting. For those reasons it is important to pick your support person wisely, and make sure it is a trusted friend or confidant who will treat anything that you say with the highest degree of sensitivity.
Legal costs can be hard to predict, but our goal is to make things as clear as possible. When we have our initial conversation, we will walk you through what some of the costs and the fee options look like. These might include unbundled services (doing a very specific part of the work), flat fees for some services where appropriate, hourly fees, or a combination that makes sure that we can work together smoothly.
There are also ways that you can help reduce the legal fees for your matter and manage costs throughout the process. Coming into meetings prepared, providing documents in advance, and collecting questions to ask during meetings will all help reduce your fees. Remember that repeated phone calls and emails can eat into your budget, so using the time together smartly is often the best solution.
While we primarily offer the range of services listed on this website, you might have a unique need that’s slightly outside of the box. No problem! Please feel free to reach out to see if we may be able to help.
If we cannot assist personally, or if your issue is outside of the scope of our practice, we will do our best to connect you with a colleague who may be better suited to assist.