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Lawyers 101: Fees, Retainer Agreements, and the Attorney-Client Relationship

Nolo emphasizes the importance of a healthy attorney-client relationship and encourages clients to actively participate in resolving their legal problems. Here is some of the information that Nolo provides about hiring and working with attorneys.

When Do You Need a Lawyer?

When you have a legal problem, you need information. Materials written for nonlawyers, from books to websites, are an excellent place to start. Trade associations and nonprofit public interest groups often publish useful information. Lawyers aren't usually good sources of background information -- at $150 to $300 an hour, they're too expensive.

But when you have questions that aren't answered by do-it-yourself materials, or if you simply want individual advice tailored to your situation, it's time to see a lawyer. Lawyers can give strategic advice, research legal issues and advocate on your behalf.

How Much Help Do You Need?

One way to work with a lawyer is to simply turn your legal issue over to the lawyer and rely on him or her to handle things. If you've been putting something off (you've been meaning to set up a trust for your grandchildren for years, for example), or your legal problem is especially upsetting (a nasty lawsuit), that's just what you may want to do. Putting a troublesome problem in a trusted expert's hands can be a huge relief.

But maybe you just need some advice or a little coaching, so that you can handle a legal matter (or some of it) on your own. If that's true, ask the lawyer to be your "coach." Many lawyers are open to providing limited help -- reviewing documents or researching a particular issue, for example. But unless you ask for coaching, you may never tap into your lawyer's willingness to help you in that way.

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