| You,
the client, have the right to know in advance how you will need to
pay the expenses and the legal fees at the end of the case. If you
pay a deposit in advance for costs, you may ask reasonable questions
about how the money will be or has been spent and how much of it remains
unspent. Your lawyer should give a reasonable estimate about future
necessary costs. If your lawyer agrees to lend or advance you money
to prepare or research the case, you have the right to know periodically
how much money your lawyer has spent on your behalf. You also have
the right to decide, after consulting with your lawyer, how much money
is to be spent to prepare a case. If you pay the expenses, you have
the right to decide how much to spend. Your lawyer should also inform
you whether the fee will be based on the gross amount recovered or
on the amount recovered minus the costs. You, the client, have the right to be told by your lawyer about possible adverse consequences if you lose the case. Those adverse consequences might include money which you might have to pay to your lawyer for costs and liability you might have for attorney's fees to the other side. You, the client, have the right to receive and approve a closing statement at the end of the case before you pay any money. The statement must list all of the financial details of the entire case, including the amount recovered, all expenses, and a precise statement of your lawyer's fee. Until you approve the closing statement, you need not pay any money to anyone, including your lawyer. You also have the right to have every lawyer or law firm working on your case sign this closing statement. You, the client, have the right to ask your lawyer at reasonable intervals how the case is progressing and to have these questions answered to the best of your lawyer's ability. You, the client, have the right to make the final decision regarding settlement of a case. Your lawyer must notify you of all offers of settlement before and after the trial. You, the client, have the right to make the final decision regarding settlement of a case. Your lawyer must notify you of all offers of settlement before and after the trial. |
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