Client Guide to Lawyers: A Few Hints for Shoppers

Desperately seeking an attorney? Finally, one lawyer has emerged from the pack of three-piece suits to guide Joe and Josephine Doe through the confusing maze of legalese and into a solid lawyer-client link.

In an introduction to Wesley J. Smith’s “The Lawyer Book,” consumer advocate Ralph Nader says, “This book is so important that you should take it to the attorney whom you choose and say to him or her: ‘These are the rights and standards which I want to apply to our relationship.

“ ‘They are written by one of your legal brethren in good standing. If you object to anything herein, please let me know now. Otherwise, I’ll expect The Lawyer Book to define how we shall treat each other.’ ”

Using lawyer stereotypes he dubs Mouthpiece A. Shyster, Letme Atim and U.R. Disturbed, San Fernando Valley attorney Smith pokes a nudge in the ribs of his less-than-upstanding colleagues while advising consumers on how to avoid these unsavory characters.

Nuts and Bolts of Survival

Smith’s book is subtitled, “The Nuts and Bolts of Client Survival,” and that is exactly what he provides. With straightforward simplicity, this 10-year courtroom veteran shows how to select lawyers and keep them accountable to you as a client.

It is unwise to choose a lawyer based on a relative’s recommendation, a flashy Yellow Pages advertisement or a newspaper headline, Smith says. The book defines the fields of law and advises readers to choose a lawyer skilled in the area they need.

Readers can use the book to guide them through law libraries, where they can research the qualifications of attorneys.

Once they have selected a few names, prospective clients should make clear and complete outlines of their problem and the evidence they have to back themselves up, Smith says. Then they should conduct assertive interviews with lawyers.

Over and over, Smith reminds readers that lawyers work for them and not vice versa. Ask questions, he advises. Make sure that you understand.

Once a choice is made, accountability and trust are the keys to a happy client-lawyer relationship, Smith says.

In the Client’s Bill of Rights, Smith sets forth the demands a client should feel free to assert, including: the right of promptly returned phone calls, the right to receive copies of all correspondence and important pleadings, the right to have promises kept, the right to a detailed billing statement and the right to know what is going on.

Truthful Relationship Vital

Clients, on the other hand, owe it to their lawyers to be absolutely truthful. What you don’t tell your attorney, Smith warns, can hurt you.

Smith tells clients how to wade through complex legal bills and determine if they are being charged properly. He takes readers step-by-step through the court process and explains the often befuddling legal terminology with lightheartedness.

Examples:

- “Arraignment: the court appearance where both the innocent and the guilty alike plead ‘not guilty.”

- “Deposition: Oral testimony given in a lawyer’s office in front of a court reporter. A ‘civilized’ form of hand-to-hand combat.”

- “Nolo contendere: The fancy Latin phrase for pleading ‘no contest’ in a criminal case. A less painful way to say ‘guilty as hell.’ ”

If things do not work out, Smith also explains how to fire and even sue your lawyer.