CA Adarsh Agrawal (CMD of SHAYVIDZ Group) 26 April 2010

Legal Tips

Do you really need an advocate?

Sometimes it’s easy to know if you need an advocate. If you’ve been charged with a crime, been served with a lawsuit, or need a divorce - an advocate is exactly what you need. Advocates, however, aren’t just for criminals or those in litigation.
A skilled advocate’s advice can help you understand the complex rules associated with business negotiations and partnerships, estate planning, adoption, will and trust drafting, tax strategies and much more.

Advocates improve their clients’ quality of life by protecting them from situations that might bring later plenty of emotional and financial hardship. We have enrolled a set of qualified advocates to help those in trouble and those who want to avoid trouble in the future. You can begin your search for legal help by presenting your case to AdvocateKhoj, wherein qualified advocates can review your situation and help you to resolve it. Finding an advocate at AdvocateKhoj is fast, free and confidential!
What to consider before you look for an advocate?

In many cases, you may be able to solve your problem without an advocate. If a company has wronged you, see if it has a customer service department. Often it can settle the complaint to your satisfaction without having to find an advocate. Also community groups might be able to offer you free advice on some types of legal matters.
On the other hand, sometimes an advocate's advice can be well worth the money. An advocate can help ensure that you contact the right people first, and that you don't do something that will hurt your case later. AdvocateKhoj makes finding the right advocate easier than ever!
Ask yourself and others, if it is possible and prudent to solve your own problem?

In many cases, you may be able to solve your problem without an advocate's help. If a company has wronged you, see if it has a customer service department. Often, a complaint can be settled to your satisfaction without having to find an advocate.
If a regulated industry (like a bank or insurance company) has wronged you, there is a state-run agency in charge of watching that industry that you can contact. This agency may be able to deal with the problem on your behalf. Community groups might also be able to offer you free advice on these types of legal matters.

On the other hand, sometimes an advocate's advice can be well worth the money. An advocate can help ensure that you contact the right people first, and that you don't do something that will hurt your case later. AdvocateKhoj makes finding the right advocate easier than ever.
Determine the immediacy of your situation.

If you've been accused of a crime or find yourself the defendant in a legal suit, contact an advocate immediately.
Avoid delay in seeking legal counsel if you've been injured and plan to pursue your rights. Waiting several months could jeopardize your right to seek relief.

Even if you are thinking about legal help merely to avoid problems in the future, it's never too early to begin your legal search. For example, tax strategies, corporate and employment law advice, and estate planning shouldn't be put off for too long. Putting legal matters on the back burner might cost you more in the end.

When you decide to act, AdvocateKhoj is there to help you find the right advocate in a fast, safe, and secure manner. At AdvocateKhoj, you can confidentially present your case online for advocates to review, and then evaluate advocates responses, credentials, and experience at a speed you are comfortable with.
Find an advocate that best suits your needs.

There are plenty of advocates out there, but how do you find the one that best suits your needs?
First, you need to find the ones who work in the proper jurisdiction. AdvocateKhoj clearly indicates the state and place in which the advocate is practicing, making the selection process very easy for you.

Second, you need to find the ones who would be the best to handle your case. Many advocates specialize in one type of law or another. A specialist in family law won't be your best option if you need a bankruptcy advocate. AdvocateKhoj matches your case with advocates based on their practice areas and expertise to make it simpler for you to find a specialist or a generalist as you search for legal help.

AdvocateKhoj makes the process of finding a qualified advocate in a fast, easy and simplified way. Present your case in our system, and interested advocates will get in touch with you through emails with comments on your case with their credentials.
Do a careful background check on the advocate before hiring him/her.

Always review an advocate's background and do not fall for his words without checking his credentials. If possible, check with your state bar association if this advocate has ever been the subject of an ethical complaint as this could alert you of potential problems and save you time and money. AdvocateKhoj Member advocates are pre-screened for such violations prior to joining AdvocateKhoj which makes the process easy for you.
Consider more than one advocate.

Consider several advocates before selecting one. It is important that you find someone who has the skills you need, who will be honest with you and who will work hard on your behalf. Make sure you review all the responses you get from the various member advocates and carefully read each AdvocateKhoj member advocate’s profile to learn about his or her experience and qualifications.
Be prepared when you call or meet with the advocate you selected. Make a list of questions on what you would want to know:

• Asking for references
• Recent cases they handled
• Whether or not they have tried similar cases
• If they will have a less experienced advocate working on your case instead of handling it themselves
• If they will refer you to a different advocate if it looks like you will be going to court

Never hire an advocate until you have completely evaluated them, and certainly do not sign anything which you do not fully understand.
Ask yourself these 11 questions before agreeing to hire any advocate.

Here are the 11 important questions to ask:
• Is the advocate a generalist or a specialist in one type of law?
• Has this advocate handled cases like yours before?
• What different outcomes can the advocate predict for your case?
• What alternatives to a lawsuit might be considered?
• Should mediation or arbitration be considered?
• How long should you expect to retain the advocate's services?
• How often will you be billed, and what's the advocate's estimation for fees and services?
• How will the advocate inform you of the case's progress?
• What style can you expect from the advocate: aggressive or open to settlement?
• Will others be assisting in the case?

The advocate-client relationship is stronger when the advocate and client understand each other. Let AdvocateKhoj assist you in finding the advocate who is the most qualified and understanding of your needs.
Things to remember while discussing fees.

You should feel comfortable when discussing fees with an advocate. Talking money with your advocate is an excellent way to judge how he or she treats clients. No matter which type of fee agreed upon between you and your advocate, always obtain proof of the agreement in writing.
In addition to an advocate's fees, you might be expected to pay certain expenses. These should be discussed before hiring an advocate, and the advocate should be willing to provide explanations of these charges with each monthly bill. Review your response carefully to see which expenses are included in your legal fee and which expenses are separate.
Establish ground rules.

Legal matters can have a variety of outcomes. None are ever predictable. Once you have chosen an advocate from AdvocateKhoj, you need to communicate your expectations before you begin discussing strategies to win. Your advocate needs to know what your "dream outcome" for the lawsuit is, and your advocate needs to explain all other possible outcomes that could happen if you pursue the case in court.
Even if your "dream outcome" seems ridiculous, your advocate needs to be aware of it. After explaining your "dream outcome," you need to list all other possible outcomes that you would accept in the order that you would accept them. This will give your advocate something to shoot for as well as keeping him or her from settling for less than you expect.

Here are some things to bring up with your advocate as you discuss the possible outcomes you will accept in your legal matters:

• When is the latest/earliest you want the legal matter attended to?
• What is the minimum amount of settlement you will agree to?
• What is the worst way you think your case can end?
• What is the maximum amount in legal fees you want to pay?

By ranking acceptable outcomes with your advocate, you avoid the possibility of your advocate not obtaining the best possible outcome that you will accept. Be sure to give the advocate a chance to voice an opinion about your ranked outcomes.
Develop a strategic plan.

After you and your AdvocateKhoj advocate understand your ground rules, it's time to discuss the plan for winning your case. In most cases, the better plan with the better follow-through generally wins. Your advocate needs to be able to explain how he or she plans to win the case, and after your initial meeting should be given the opportunity to draft a strategic plan. The strategic plan, for the most part, forces your advocate to give immediate attention to your case, encouraging creative and proactive thinking. A strategic plan explains all of the following:
• What the plan is and what results it should probably produce?
• Why it's the best possible plan?
• How long the plan will probably take, from beginning to end?
• How much it will probably cost to implement the plan?
• What special circumstances might require deviation from the plan?

Your advocate will charge you for the time it takes to draft a strategic plan. As for the cost of drafting the plan, you can instruct your advocate up front to spend only a certain amount of money on drafting the plan.

Finally, don't hesitate in modifying the plan that your advocate comes up with, if necessary. The strategic plan, when agreed upon by advocate and client, will keep your advocate on the right path for the duration of your lawsuit.
Always evaluate your advocate.