What to Expect From Your Legal Team: Client Q&A Guide
Q: Who should I contact if I have a question?
A: Account questions – Call our office at (253) 471-7774 / email [email protected]
Billing-specific questions – Email your paralegal and CC your attorney
Case-specific questions – Email your paralegal and CC your attorney
Scheduling or general questions – Call (253) 471-7774
Time-sensitive issues – Call the office directly at (253) 471-7774. For calls received outside of business hours, please provide the operator with all pertinent information and you will be contacted on the next business day.
Q: What should I know about communication expectations?
A: We aim to respond within 24 – 48 business hours. Your paralegal is your main point of contact for updates and logistics. Attorneys are happy to speak with you, but please consolidate your questions into one email or schedule a call. Frequent unscheduled emails or calls can delay progress and increase costs.
Q: What’s the general process in a family law matter?
A: Every case is different, but most follow this general flow: Petition → Response → Temporary Orders → Discovery → Mediation → Settlement or Trial. Your paralegal or attorney will keep you informed of next steps specific to your case.
Q: What should I expect for court appearances?
A: Your hearings may be in-person or via Zoom depending on the county and type of hearing. You will only need to attend hearings if your attorney tells you to.
Zoom Etiquette:
● Join with your camera off and microphone muted.
● When your case is called, turn your camera on and stay muted unless addressed directly
by the judge/commissioner.
● Children and other non-parties should never be present during hearings or mediation.
Q: What are billing minimums and how does my Trust account work?
A: ● All time worked on your case is billed in 0.1 hour (6 minutes) increments with a minimum billable of 0.2 (12 minutes). Please review the billing table in your Legal Services Agreement (LSA) for more detail.
● You must maintain a positive Trust balance for work to continue – even if you are requesting that the opposing party pay your legal fees.
● Trial requires a larger Trust deposit (see your signed LSA for amounts).
● Attorneys will request additional trust funds based on the anticipated work needed. If you have a case event such as mediation, arbitration, or a hearing, the trust request sent before that event is to cover the costs associated with preparing for and attending that event.
● Retainer fees typically don’t cover all legal costs in most cases, especially for complex matters. Retainers are often used as a down payment or a deposit against future legal fees, and clients are usually expected to pay additional fees as the case progresses.
● The firm sends billing statements twice monthly. They list your Trust account balance and any balance you owe if your Trust account has been depleted.
● All unused funds in your Trust at the end of your case are refundable.
Q: Can I ask that only a legal assistant work on my case to save money?
A: Unfortunately, no. While legal assistants play a vital role in supporting the team, only attorneys and paralegals can do substantive legal work on your case.
Q: What role does the paralegal play?
A: Paralegals cannot provide legal advice, but they manage deadlines, filings, and communication with the court and opposing counsel. You can and should reach out to your paralegal with questions or updates – they’re here to help keep your case moving forward and can take detailed messages for your attorney, especially if they are in court or trial. You are encouraged to speak freely with your paralegal but you should understand that some questions may need to be referred to your attorney. Please CC your paralegal and attorney on all emails to make sure everyone stays informed.
Q: What kind of turnaround time should I expect for documents?
A: We aim to complete most document drafts within 48 business hours, depending on complexity and workload. Some filings require client signatures or documents, and your timely responses are crucial. If we miss a deadline, hearings may need to be rescheduled.
Q: What outcomes should I realistically expect?
A: Judges/Commissioners, not attorneys, make final decisions. We will communicate all offers from opposing counsel, even if they’re not ideal. Share your goals and priorities with your attorney so we can advocate for you effectively, but know that litigation often involves compromise.
Q: Anything else I should keep in mind?
A: ● Case schedules are set by the court and may change unexpectedly.
● Hearings are set based on court availability, not client preferences.
● We’re a team. Keeping both your paralegal and attorney looped in ensures we can serve you efficiently.
● A signed confidentiality waiver is required if someone else will be involved in communications about your case.