Perry Law Firm has a reputation for being a reliable, efficient and knowledgeable law firm that is dedicated to providing the highest quality legal counsel.
Perry Law Firm has a reputation for being a reliable, efficient and knowledgeable law firm that is dedicated to providing the highest quality legal counsel.
The following are some of the questions most commonly asked of our attorneys, followed by general answers that may or may not relate to your case specifically. For more detailed answers to any legal questions you might have, or for an evaluation of your individual case, please contact Perry Law Firm, serving Camden and Myrtle Beach SC, today.
An attorney (also called lawyer, counsel, counselor, solicitor, or barrister) is a professionally trained and licensed individual who assists people with legal problems, often times preparing legal documents or representing people before courts and government agencies.
An attorney has two main duties: to uphold the law and to protect a client's rights.
When an attorney gives you "advice" it is a conclusion drawn from many years of training and study and perhaps many hours of searching through volumes of written material to be certain that it includes all the laws affecting your problem. In preparing a contract, pleading, or other document for you, your attorney brings the skill and knowledge of the legal profession to that work.
The old saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is just as applicable in law as it is in medicine. The best time to go to an attorney is before you are in legal difficulty. It is best to consult your attorney before you sign papers or take other action that might seriously alter your legal position.
You should consider consulting an attorney when:
You are planning to enter into a verbal or written contract which has major financial consequences.
You are involved in an accident involving injury to persons or damage to property.
You are seeking to collect an account from another person, or someone is seeking to collect an account from you which you do not believe you owe or which you question.
You need an opinion about the title to real estate.
You want to plan your estate and make a will.
You are organizing or dissolving a business. You are settling an estate.
You are involved in a family situation such as adoption, divorce, child support or modification.
Your rights as a consumer or employee are abused. You have been arrested for a crime You have been served with legal papers in a civil lawsuit.
You have been involved in a serious accident causing personal injury or property damages.
You have a change in financial status or when filing for bankruptcy.
There are numerous other reasons why you should consider consulting with an attorney.
Your attorney's principal duty is to see that you are given the benefit of all your legal rights. An attorney is sworn to conduct cases in an orderly way that will assure that they may be decided upon their merits. Your attorney may not make any agreement or incur any obligations that might substantially prejudice your interests, without your prior approval.
You should give your attorney all the facts concerning your case and make a full and fair disclosure of the entire situation. In order to serve you well, your attorney must know not only the favorable facts but also those that may be unfavorable.
Plan to go to the first interview with an open mind. You do not have to decide to hire the attorney until you have had time to think about the interview.
Here is a simple checklist of basic questions to ask before you hire an attorney:
What is your experience in this field?
Have you handled matters like mine?
What are the possible outcomes of my case?
What are my alternatives in resolving the matter?
Approximately how long will it take to resolve?
Do you recommend mediation or arbitration?
What are your rates and how often will you bill me?
What is a ballpark figure for the total bill, including fees and expenses?
How will you keep me informed of progress?
What kind of approach will you take to resolve the matter – aggressive and unyielding, or will you be more inclined to reach a reasonable settlement?
Who else in the office will be working on my case?
Can junior attorneys or paralegals in the office handle some of the administrative work at a lower rate?
Once you've hired an attorney, substantial and frequent contact with you is generally not needed. The fee that the attorney quotes usually assumes nominal contact. However, if you decide that you would like to meet with your attorney to discuss the status of your case or new developments, call and make an appointment. Be sure to ask if there will be an additional charge for the office visit. In some cases, letters are the most economic and efficient method of handling questions