HOW TO KEEP LEGAL COSTS UNDER CONTROL

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Know your rights Legal Profession Regulations 2009 gives clients the right to negotiate a costs agreement with a law practice; to receive progress reports periodically and a bill of costs prior to paying for legal work; to request an itemized bill (at no extra charge) if a lump sum bill is sent; and to know the rate of interest you will be charged on overdue legal costs. You also have a right to be notified if there will be a substantial change in the estimated cost provided to you when you retained the law practice.

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Know your expectations Your solicitor can help you to resolve your family law or other legal issues during mediation, negotiation, or a hearing. If you have a reasonable expectation of what the outcome of your case will be, you can make more informed choices during the process of negotiating a resolution.

This makes it easier to resolve your dispute quickly and cost-effectively. If you expect to receive more than the law allows, you are likely to face a long legal battle and are unlikely to get the desired outcome in the end since the law will be applied to determine your rights at a hearing.

Review your legalstrategy regularlyWhether facing a family law issue or any other legal matter, you want to ensure you and your solicitor are on the same page and that you have developed the best strategy for a timely andsuccessful outcome.

If legal issues change, a different strategy may be required to address those issues. As compromises are reached, you can also narrow the focus of the negotiations to address only disputed matters so a final agreement can be achieved more quickly.

Be prepared when talking with your solicitorWhether you are making a telephone call or meeting in person, be prepared with a list of question to ask and have the information ready that your lawyer will need. Have a clear objective in mind for what you hope to achieve during the conversation or meeting and let your solicitor know what you are hoping to accomplish. Being prepared allows you to keep communications short and to the point and allows you to avoid unnecessary meetings or telephone calls.

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Help your solicitor to help you You want to make it as easy as possible for your lawyer to help you. This means preparing a statement of facts or other information your solicitor requests from you. You should provide as much information as possible, in an organized format, so your lawyer does not have to piece together information from different sources.

Avoid unnecessarytelephone calls

You should communicate with your solicitor about matters of concern, but want to avoid unnecessary calls. Assemble a list of things to talk to your lawyer about so you can address all of your issues with one phone call. If your solicitor is unavailable, leave your telephone number as well as a time when you will be available for a call back.

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Make a conscious choiceon the best approach tocommunication You should speak with your solicitor about the best approach to take for cost-effective communications. Faxes can be expensive to transmit and emails may take more time than necessary as information must be typed out and there may be a need for multiple back-and-forth emails to provide clarity of commu-nication.

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Make contact with the assistant when possible A solicitor’s assistant is experienced in Family Law and

other general legal issues you may be seeking help with. If you have a basic inquiry or wish to make an appointment with your solicitor, reach out to the assistant instead of taking your solicitor’s time.

At Owen Hodge Lawyers, we provides affordable legal representation to individuals with pending family law matters or other legal issues they need help resolving. Call Owen Hodge Lawyers today on 1800 770 780 or contact us via ohl@owenhodge.com.au to find out how we can assist with moving your case forward in a cost-effective way that protects your short and long-term interests.