Lawyers bear a certain responsibility towards their clients. A lawyer may serve as your representative, advisor, negotiator, intermediary, and/or advocate. With so much interaction and exchange of crucial information, it is excruciatingly important that the client and attorney have grounds for trust in each other. Understanding the responsibility your lawyer owes you and the responsibility you bear towards your attorney may help you establish trust.
Lawyers’ responsibilities to you as a client include these things.
· Adhering to strict rules of conduct and ethics
· Communicating with you effectively and in a timely manner
· Following your instructions
· Representing you in professional manner
· Safekeeping your money or property, and returning it to you promptly when you ask
· Treating you loyally (no conflicts of interest)
· Treating your privileged case information confidentially
Your lawyer needs to be someone you can trust to do what you want and only what you want in your case. He needs to know the right information and know how to communicate that information in a way that reads clear to a specific audience. However, it can prove difficult for an attorney to fulfill his or her responsibilities when the client does not then fulfill their own responsibilities.
Your responsibilities as a client to your lawyer are comprised of these items.
· Attending legal proceedings when asked
· Being accessible and available
· Being cooperative, courteous, and responsive
· Being honest
· Maintaining contact and communication
· Paying your legal bills on time
· Understanding that your lawyer has additional clients
Remember these responsibilities to each other and your lawyer-client relationship should benefit your lawyer as well as you.
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