What will I need to do and how closely should I be involved?

That depends on the arrangements that you and the lawyer work out. Sometimes, you may want to simply hand a matter over to your attorney to let him or her handle it. Although this is sometimes possible, in most matters you will need to remain involved at least to the extent necessary to provide your attorney with the information and materials necessary to proceed with your matter. For example, in litigation, the parties often engage in a fact-finding process called "discovery."

During discovery, the other side may ask that you produce documents, answer written questions, or appear at a deposition and answer questions before a court reporter. It is often essential to the progress of your case (or the defense of your case) for you to cooperate fully and quickly with your lawyer's requests for information and/or documents. Failing to cooperate with discovery requests could lead to your case being dismissed, an award of attorneys fees to the other side, or other sanctions.

Some people like to be more actively involved in their case either because of their personal interest in the matter or because they hope to save some money on legal fees. It is sometimes possible to help contain legal fees by getting papers and other evidence together and by lining up any witnesses you need. At a minimum, keeping good records and documenting events will often enable your lawyer to better prepare your case with less time spent on sorting through materials.

You should ask your lawyer to explain to you the various steps involved in handling your problem. You may also wish to ask the lawyer to send you copies of any letters or documents prepared for your case. In addition, you may want to ask how long your case will take and how often the lawyer will report to you. Depending on your legal issue, the lawyer may be able to give you a timetable that tells what will be done for you and when it will be done. However, this is not always possible. For example, if you are involved in a law suit, the length of time your case will take depends partly on how busy the courts are.

If you have any questions as your case moves along, call the lawyer. But remember: You are paying your lawyer for his/her expertise and time. Unless you have negotiated a contingent fee arrangement, you should expect to be charged for the time the lawyer spends talking to you.