You Pay Less in Legal Fees if You Can Do Some of the Work
Handling your own legal needs without an attorney is called “pro se representation” or “pro per representation” depending on where you’re located. This means going to court without a lawyer or handling some other legal need, like a will or a contract, by yourself. If you feel uneasy about that, you should. But you really want to save money on legal fees? You can. Officially, it’s called “unbundled legal services.” More commonly it is referred to as “limited services,” “limited representation,” and sometimes “coaching.” You do some of the work, the lawyer does some, and you pay only for what the lawyer does.
Many States now allow attorneys to help clients with parts of a larger case, charging standard fees for what the lawyer does. Usually you work out a written agreement stating who is doing which parts. This keeps responsibilities and fees clear.
Unbundled or limited is not the same as “reduced fee services,” which are available for only some kinds of cases, and most often for people of severely limited means. In your case, for whichever tasks the attorney takes on, he will charge standard fees, and you should be sure to reach a very clear agreement about how much the fees will be, and how they will be billed.
Not every legal need is appropriate for the unbundled approach. Some attorneys prefer to be retained for the whole case, or not at all. Many legal matters, such as a personal injury case or bankruptcy, are quite complex and should be handed only by an expert. Other, more straightforward matters, like collection of a debt, are easier to divide between a lawyer and client.
Getting Started
Before you decide to take the unbundled approach, do some research on the kind of case you have. Also be realistic about your own strengths and weaknesses. Would you feel comfortable speaking in court? The better prepared you are, the better decision you will make on whether to unbundle your case and the better you will work with the attorney and make the most of his or her advice and services.
A limited scope lawyer may help you with the following:
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Reviewing documents and correspondence
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Coaching you on possible outcome of a particular situation
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Assisting with negotiations
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Helping prepare information in a format acceptable to the courts
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Educating you on court procedures
Benefits:
- If there are things you can do yourself (create documents, gather information or appear at hearings), you will save money on legal fees
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If you need help, the lawyer will assist when needed
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you and your lawyer will agree on certain tasks and you both will work only on those tasks
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You and your lawyer work as a team
Is Limited Scope right for you?
Should you represent yourself? Ask yourself these questions:
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Are you on time for meetings and deadlines?
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Are you available to be at the courthouse during business hours?
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Do you complete your own tax returns?
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Are you comfortable doing research on a computer or in a library?
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Can you be clear and calm when speaking in court?
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Do get stressed out or angry easily?
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Are you frustrated by rules and think they may not apply to you?
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Can you make decisions and stick to them (court decision can be long lasting)?
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Does the case involve children, large amounts of money, or is there physical or emotional abuse involved? (These issues are complicated when a lawyer would be useful.)