The Tony Kornheiser lesson: Even when you think someone is not, someone is ALWAYS listening
Of course, by now, you have probably heard of the statements that Tony Kornheiser made about ESPN Analyst, Hannah Storm. In case you missed it, here it is what he said:
“Hannah Storm in a horrifying, horrifying outfit today,” Kornheiser said. “She’s got on red go-go boots and a catholic school plaid skirt … way too short for somebody in her 40s or maybe early 50s by now.
“She’s got on her typically very, very tight shirt. She looks like she has sausage casing wrapping around her upper body … I know she’s very good, and I’m not supposed to be critical of ESPN people, so I won’t … but Hannah Storm … come on now! Stop! What are you doing?”
Now, the fact that he made these statements are bad enough. I don’t think anybody would question that point. However, it’s further magnified by the fact that he made the comments on his radio show.
Do we feel sorry for him? OOOOO, no! 2 weeks off the air is just a drop in the bucket. He’s already apologized and he will be back on prime time before march madness is officially over. The reason I’m bringing this story forward is for the millions of people who ‘like’ Tony think they can say something and nobody is paying attention.
Unfortunately, most people don’t realize that every one on the internet has the potential to reach MILLIONS of people in an instant. And for those of you who are working, you need to realize one fundamental fact. If you use the internet as your sounding board, at least ONE of those millions of people may know your BOSS!!!!
Let’s be real. We LOVE our technology. We’re intoxicated by twitter. Fascinated by Facebook. Mesmerized by Myspace. Blown away by our Blogs. And yelling ‘hip hip, hoo ray’ for YOU TUBE! And you better believe that we use every tool that we can think of when can.
Unfortunately, in our ‘haste’ to fully maximize all of these tools, we let two little words called ‘common sense’ seep out of our ears. What made you think that posting an update on your facebook page that says “my boss is an idiot’ wouldn’t get back to her? Who told you that a ‘tweet’ that says “my boss is stupid” wouldn’t get back to him?
And I got news for you. It’s almost like getting caught in bed with someone who is NOT your significant other. You can do the Texas Two step as much as you want but when the music stops, yo ass is GONE!! You can’t argue a post that YOU wrote. You can’t argue what you put in YOUR facebook page. There is no getting around it. And, as one of my tech friends once told me, once it’s on the web, it’s A WRAP! You can’t get it off. You can’t modify it. You may be able to TRY and delete it but if the wrong person saw it and copied it, I got two words for you:
“TOO LATE”
“PINK SLIP”
“YOU’RE FIRED”
Hell, take your pick!!
And OH, don’t think because you wrote a posting AFTER hours at home that you’re safe. As more and more companies move to regular use of technology, you NEVER know who may watching. Now, I’m not saying that you should censor your speech. However, you need to understand two points. ONE, if you say something disparaging about your employer, be prepared to accept the consequences. TWO, you don’t TRULY know who has your back in an employment situation so don’t let yourself fall into a false sense of security. In the right situation, people WILL DIME YOU OUT!!
Listen, we aren’t all of the same calibur as Hannah Storm or Tony Kornheiser or Shawn Johnson or Apollo Ohno. Millions of people are not resting on our every word. But be careful. There are a FEW people who are very interested in what you have to say and you don’t want WHAT you say to effect WHERE you work.
Whether it’s Conan O’Brien or Jay Leno, you’re still an employee! Don’t take it personally!
If you are one of those million people who have been engrossed in this whole process of watching all of this drama unfold before your very eyes, you are probably saying to yourself, “Give me a break”.
You’re probably not moved by the fact that Conan O’Brien will be getting $45 million dollars to leave his job and Jay will get his old job back. It’s easy to look at their situation and think to yourself “Man, they got money coming out of their ears so why should THEY be pressed!”. This situation sounds ALOT like what we regularly see in professional sports. Big time athletes being bought of their contracts. We get so caught up in the glow of the money being thrown around that we still ignore one FUNDAMENTAL point.
THEY are STILL employees!!!
Wrap your brain around this fact. Conan sat and waited for the opportunity to move into this position. How many of you have found yourselves in this position where you are sitting and waiting patiently for your opportunity. You’ve been the model employee. You’ve worked hard. You’ve kept your nose clean. You’ve done everything you’ve been asked to do. Then, at the last second, something happens. A business decision. Nothing that relates to you but it is a decision. Now, all of sudden, you’re no longer the person being looked at for the job. Even worse, someone else is hired for that exact same position right before your very eyes. At best, you can wait patiently for your next opportunity. At worst, you would have wasted your time with the hopes and aspiration that that door may open again.
It’s easy to look at a pro athlete or a tv personality or even a corporate mogul and say, ‘they aren’t hurting. they getting paid’. However, money doesn’t always LESSEN the sting. Sometimes, the situation itself is a blow to your ego. It’s a blow to your emotions. It’s a blow to your reputation. Think about it. If you were waiting all these years for your chance and it passes you by, you would wonder (and others MIGHT wonder) if the problem wasn’t a business decision but maybe a lack of faith in your ability to rise to the occasion.
Taking money OUT of the equation, the simple fact is that we all tend to get emotional invested in our employment. Our jobs and our ability to do our jobs tends to be direct reflection on us. We don’t play around when it comes to that reflection. We know our job today will impact our jobs for tomorrow. We know that people look at us based on our skill, our position, and our status. Those things are personal and NO amount of money can remove that from us.
The hardest thing that alot of us will face is someone telling us that “business is business”. When you’re an employee, it’s a reality that you know but it’s also a reality that is hard to sometimes accept. When you’re an employee, you understand that a considerable amount of your livelihood is dictated by the impression and perceptions of others. So you do everything you can to make that a reality. Unfortunately, in the grand scheme of things, all too many times, employees find themselves in the tough position of taking a decision that is made above them personally.
No one is saying that you should be a robot and that you should disconnect your feelings from your job. It’s not an easy task to do. However, it is important to remember that at the end of the day, even though employers typically will look out for your well being, the viability of your employment is based on the bottom line. It’s not sexy but it is, what it is.
It’s important that you do everything YOU do to ensure that YOU strive to and continue to maintain the best image and reputation for yourself.
Why employee manuals are so important
How many of you remember getting hired and being given some 10 to 100 page manual that you are suppose to read and then sign indicating that you understand what you read????
A lot of you should have raised your hands. I can confidently say that one of the single most boring activities has to be the reading employee manuals. Most of us when we start our jobs are so happy to be working that we barely even skim the pages and go RIGHT to the page where it says sign. In some cases, we don’t even know where the employee manual is after we signed it.
Unfortunately, in too many instances, when something crazy jumps off at our work place, the best tool for identifying your rights is that employee manual.
Now, that may do nothing for you if you are in a tough situation but here are a few things you should think about:
1) When you get hired
Read! Read! Read! I know it’s boring and I know you feel it’s a waste of your time but TAKE the opportunity to read the employee manual. This way, you are up to speed on what you are entitled and your job rights.
2) What should you be looking for?
You definitely want to focus on any grievance procedure and disciplinary protocol. You want to know what you need to do if you are contesting your discipline or what the grounds are for disciplining you.
3) What if they don’t have one?
Some employers may not have an employee handbook or policy manual. In some states, they may not be required to have one so don’t be surprised if they don’t.
4) While you’re working
Ask your employer if they have periodically updated the employee manual. If they don’t have one, ask if they intend produce one. More importantly, if you receive updates from your employer regarding Human Resource policies and procedures, READ! READ! READ!
5) When something goes bad
Here’s where most people are interested. And this situation can sometimes be delicate. If you are unsure about your rights, don’t be afraid to ask to review the employee manual. If you are still tentative about going to your supervisor, go speak to Human Resources and ask for a copy (Or at least a review).
The employee manual (if your employer has one) is a valuable tool that can be your best friend and ally in situations involving your employment. Don’t be school to check to see if your rights are violated. If you don’t, no one else will.
The initial speech when you come in for representation
“Allow me the opportunity to explain a few things to you about the process and what you can expect………”
I can’t tell how many times I’ve had to give this type of speech. It’s a crucial speech and it’s one that every person who is hiring an attorney should and probably will hear. It’s not meant to blow you off or talk above your head. The speech is designed to educate you about somethings so you can be fully informed.
How does this speech go?? It’s usually something like this (and they are all done a little different depending on the attorney or type of case):
1) The Process
What the Lawyers say -”The process you’re going to go through is a difficult process and may take a while but you must be patient because some steps are necessary.”
What the Lawyers mean - You have to be patient because there are certain things and steps that HAVE to happen in order to get a favorable outcome. Even though you’ve hired an attorney, this doesn’t mean that you are going to get the outcome you are looking for immediately.
2) Representation
What the Lawyers say - “It’s important to keep me informed about your situation. Remember, it’s important to remember that I am representing you.”
What the Lawyers mean - The attorney is telling you that YOU are the client. Not your cousin. Not your husband. Not your wife. Not your girlfriend, boyfriend, momma, daddy, or friends. It’s, also, important for you to remember that you bear some responsibility in ensuring that you providing information to your attorney.
3) Attorney Fees
What the Lawyers say - “It’s important to understand that we obtain attorney fees in this manner. “
What the Lawyers mean - Unless the attorney tells you that they are going to do the case ‘pro bono’ (i.e. free), they expect to get paid. Attorneys do a good job at documenting the work they do so they are going to cover themselves in terms of describing the work they do.
4) Expectations of your case
What the Lawyers say - “The likelihood of success depends on the facts of your case as well as the evidence. As the case proceeds, we will evaluate the case further.”
What the Lawyers mean - Do NOT, and I repeat, DO NOT compare your case with someone else’s case. Every case is different and every outcome is different. As one attorney once told me, “I’ve seen great cases with great facts lose and bad cases with bad facts win. What does that tell me? Every case is a crap shoot”. With this being said, it’s important to remember that attorney’s typically take cases they can win so they are trying to make money when they can. However, sometimes, as the case progresses, they realize that they case can easily get worse.
5) Communicating with your attorney
What the Lawyers say - “Please feel free to contact our office anytime. Our staff is available to assist you with most questions and concerns. If you must talk to me, just my staff know.”
What the Lawyers mean - So many times people think that the only person who can tell them about their case is their attorney. As such, people are quick to bypass the paralegal or admin assistant who can provide you quick and accurate information about the status of your case. Don’t be so quick to believe that support staff can’t help you.
Attorneys constantly speak about how important a decision and it is an important decision. Attorneys recognize and appreciate how important it is for clients to be informed about the process, the case, and everything that may be deemed relevant at the BEGINNING of the process. Make sure you take the time to listen to what they have to say.
Whether you are a BALLER or A SCHOLAR - Play it smart: There are ALWAYS 2 sides to every story!
I have a good friend who went to graduated from law school with me who ALWAYS throws out this famous line: “There are ALWAYS two sides to every story!”
Now, this line is not anything special because it’s been used over a million times but I am ALWAYS amazed at how quickly she throws out this comment when something racially or emotionally charged comes rushing out. However, she’s making a powerful point. And NOTHING more powerful than when the police are involved with a particular situation.
What I have found in this Twitter / Facebook / Myspace / Diggs Rennaissance community is that we are always swamped with snap shots of situations but not necesarily the who picture.
Right now, front page is the arrest of noted scholar Henry Louis Gates. Dr. Gates is a powerfully educated scholar who is African American. Dr. Gates was arrested on his own porch after a highly visible confrontation with a police officer. Instinctively, this arrest defies logic on its face.
But I want to take an opportunity to use this example of how you can find yourself in a unique situation and how that situation can be seen in a variety of different ways. While I do this, I want to draw a comparison to Dr. Gates’ arrest to the NFL Player who was stopped at a routine stop while rushing to see his dying mother in law:
1) Recognize, some people may not KNOW who you are. I am not saying that anyone should receive preferential treatment for their actions. However, we as individuals will some times give deference if we are familiar with the person we are dealing. It is important to understand that in some instances you may be dealing with someone who does not know who you are NOR do they care.
2) KEEP COOL! Even though we don’t know all of the facts regarding Dr. Gates, we do know that there was a confrontation. The best thing about the NFL player situation was that a video camera taped the whole incident. In the player’s situation, even though he was getting upset, he didn’t lose his composure (and he had a right to). The player sat there and took that ticket KNOWING that his mother in law dying (that was a real moment where most of us would have probably clicked).
3) Remember the TOTALITY of the circumstances. So many times, we focus on one small aspect of a situation and we MAGNIFY it. However, when you factor in everything before and after that moment, that one small aspect appears SMALL! Remember, your actions before are just as important as your actions during and AFTER the fact!
4) Your power is based in your ability to remain CALM and COLLECTED! So many times, people are put in the position of wanting to ‘get gangsta’ or ‘click’ but people don’t appreciate how powerful it is for you to ‘maintain your composure’.
5) Always look at the OTHER side! Can you justify what someone else WOULD have done? Take your emotions out of situation and take a moment to logically look at a situation. Sometimes, we get so fired up after a situation presents itself that we don’t look at the worst case scenario and determine if we would deal with the scenario as the other person did.
Now, I am not justifying the action of the police or the actions of Dr. Gates. I am merely pointing out that with any situation, it is important to look at the overall scope of the situation before rendering any type of opinion. We are all educated so continue to allow your self to be educated about a situation.
Sometimes you can’t prevent something from happening
In accordance with the online free dictionary, Moot refers to a subject for academic argument. It is an abstract question that does not arise from existing facts or rights. In accordance with the online free dictionary, RIPE, in Constitutional law, referring to a law case appealed from a state or federal court which is ready for consideration by the Supreme Court, meaning that all other avenues for determining the case have been exhausted, there is a real controversy, and the law needs to be settled on one or more issues raised by the case.
Now, some of you who are used to reading my blogs probably are wondering “Why in the hell is he leading off with legal definitions??”.
Quite simply put, sometimes, there is NO case YET in order for an attorney to get involved. So, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but unfortunately, in some instances, you just can’t prevent something from happening.
I can’t tell you how many times I have had people who have approached me about resolving a situation that MIGHT happen. Now, don’t get me wrong. There are plenty of times when situations arise that dictate that an attorney may be necessary. However, sometimes, you have to look at your situation and ask yourself “Has anything happened YET that warrants the need for an attorney?”.
For instance, let’s say you are working at a job and you filed a harassment complaint against your employer. If the harassment continues, getting an attorney involved is helpful if you decide to quit. However, if the harassment stops but you THINK you MIGHT get fired, calling an attorney does NOTHING because NOTHING has happened.
Another example, let’s say you’re on disability benefits but you are thinking about going back to work. If your benefits haven’t been cut off yet, then why would you need an attorney?? If your benefits haven’t been THREATENED to be cut off, then why would you need an attorney? If you haven’t even gone back to work and your benefits haven’t been cut off, why would you need an attorney??
Now, don’t get me wrong. Going to an attorney to determine if you have a case or a potential case is definitely a smart move. You don’t want to lose your rights as a result of a bad situation that you are not sure is actually a case. However, you have to accept the fact that you may have some situations that don’t warrant any legal action because nothing illegal has happened or your rights may have NOT been violated yet.
I know that in these times, we want to be careful. We want to keep our eye out for anyone who may be trying to take advantage of us. However, you have to recognize that some times, the facts of your situation don’t necessitate the need to take any legal action yet!! I know you are probably saying, “so i gotta wait for something to happen before I can do something?”. In some situations, yes. Think about it. How are going to legally stop someone from firing you if you have NO idea that they are ACTUALLY going to fire you??
Be smart! Be cautious! Be informed! But most importantly, be aware that you may have no legal rights yet to be enforced.
Timing may not be enough
When you are terminated from your job or experienced some form of adverse employment action (whether it be demotion, disciplinary action, or hostile work place), you may take at the possibility that these actions may be in response to something else.
In other words, if you have done something you were legally permitted to do or you are a member of a protected class (i.e. race, sex, age, etc.), you may consider the possibility that you were retaliated against by your employer.
However, retaliation is sometimes very tough to prove. The first portions of the analysis may be easy. Part 1 may require you to demonstrate that that you were conducting an activity that was legally protected (like participating in an investigation or refusing to do something illegal). Part 2 may require you to demonstrate some adverse employment action (like getting demoted or fired). Those two parts are usually the easiest. The hardest part is the last part where you must demonstrate that there is a causal link between the two. Now, after you’ve laid out your theory, the employer has the chance to come back and say “Hey, I had a legitimate reason for doing what I did”. Then, the ball is back in your court. You have to prove that the employers actions were pre-textual. In other words, you gotta show that the adverse employment action was done in an attempt to retaliate against you for your actions.
One thing that courts may take into consideration is timing. In other words, courts will look at when you did something and how soon after the action did the adverse employment action occurred. Alot of times, people get pumped up because they think that if something bad happens within a short period of time, this information will solidify their case and slam dunk the employer.
However, you gotta keep a few things in mind when looking at timing:
1) The longer the time, the tougher the case. The longer the time period elapses between the protected activity and the adverse employment action, the more difficult it is to prove a causal link. In other words, if you complain of sexual harassment in 2002 but nothing happens to you until you get fired in 2007, you are going to have a tough road to prove the complaint is tied to the firing.
2) You better keep clean. If you were a problem child before and the employer documented this before and they continue to document that you are a problem child, you may have a hard time distinguishing between the employer’s retaliation and the employer merely documenting your behavior.
3) No magical time. Always remember that timing is added factor that courts can consider. however, timing is not enough by itself to automatically slap culpability to the employer. it can be extremely persuasive but it is NOT an automatic win.
It’s important that you take the opportunity to talk to your attorney before moving forward so that you can get a true appreciation of how ‘timing’ may play a role in your case. You don’t want make too much out of your situation if there is really nothing there.
Employers DON’T just ROLL OVER!
What I find amazing is the number of people who believe that companies or employers will simply ROLL OVER and pay money when faced with the possibility of a discrimination law suit!
Part of the problem that most people don’t understand is that when a Plaintiff is deciding to sue, the Plaintiff’s decision is usually motivated by emotion and finances based on a perceived (or actual) damage that they have sustained. However, the decision to settle or fight the law suit on the part of the Employer or Company (i.e. Defendant) may be based on a purely Business decision. The decision may be guided by the evidence relied upon, the likelihood of the company losing, the cost to litigate the case v. the damages involved or the company’s position on these types of cases.
1) The evidence relied upon. Some employers will first take a hard look at the evidence involved. If the evidence appears to be strongly in favor of the plaintiff, employers may make the decision that it’s to their advantage to settle the case and move forward.
2) The likelihood of the company losing. Going to court is like rolling the dice. No matter how much of a streak you have going, you can always roll an unlucky hand. If a company feels that they have a pretty good chance of losing, they may not fight a law suit.
3) The cost to litigate the case v. the damages involved. Recognize this, most Plaintiff’s may be able to hire an attorney on a contingency or partial contingency basis. However, when an employer gets an attorney, they may hire a heavy weight law firm to represent them. Getting a heavyweight firm may mean paying between $250 to $500 per hour for an attorney to review the case, evaluate, conduct discovery, conduct depositions, prepare for trial, and go to trial. And trust me, everything I just listed is about a good 20 to 30 hours worth at a minimum (At $500 per hour, that’s $15000 right out the gate). So if a company can settle a case without having to pay a HUGE amount in attorney fees or risk the possibility of having to pay their attorney, the Plaintiff, and the Plaintiff’s attorney, they will settle and move on.
4) The company’s position on these types of cases. Some employees don’t realize that some companies take a DIE HARD position against law suits. They don’t care if you’re fighting for $300 or $300,000, they will fight everyone “TOOTH and NAIL”!
So many times, plaintiffs believe what their peers tell them about a company. They compare their case with others who have been successful and get excited by the possibility of getting a quick settlement from a supposedly “Soft” employer. Just remember, with the employer, it’s ALL about BUSINESS, Baby, so NEVER take for granted that an employer will just simply ROLL OVER for no reason!
Social Media can get you in trouble! Be careful what you TWEET!
True story! No lie! Check it out!
Several years ago, I was working for a firm and during that time, I had a established a myspace page. No biggie. Well, while I was there, someone in one of our offices in Louisiana found my page. They then contacted a co-worker in my office in Florida. That co-worker contacted me and said “how come you didn’t tell me that you had a myspace page?”. Of course, I’m thinking “Didn’t think I had to.” lol
Now, I can tell you. I was lucky because my firm was aware that I had a myspace page and my own blog so there wasn’t any issue. Also, I had a strict personal policy that anything I put on the web, I had no problems defending in public.
However, there are so many times when people have this idea that the internet is like Las Vegas. Well, I got news for you. What happens on the web doesn’t necessarily STAY on the web!
For some odd reason, people think that they can post things on the internet and it is ‘free from review’. I got news for you. It’s not that simple anymore.
Back in the day, the only means of communicating through the internet was through e-mail. Then, we starting seeing social media sites like myspace, or facebook, or Hi5, or yahoo! Now, you have social networking sites like NING or TWEET. What makes these sites scarier is that it is very easy to create a fictitious person solely for the purpose of monitoring what people say. Think about it. If you have TWEET and someone asks to follow you but they don’t have a weblink or a picture of themselves, do you REALLY know who the hell they are??? I’m not saying that you should be paranoid but you gotta use some logic.
Alot of social ning sites or groups are open to the public. Tweet and other sites are open as well. So how do you know if someone is following because they want to get to know you or they are just following you for other reasons?
I’m still a firm believer that anything you post to the internet, you should be able to defend in person. Don’t use it as your personal venting site for things you don’t want to come back and bite you because you NEVER know. So when you get froggy and decide that you want to call your boss a jerk or say NASTY things about your company, you can’t be surprised if you get called into the office for a very stern conversation.
Also, be careful with your blogs as well. Sometimes, people don’t realize how damaging their blogs may be. When you decide to post a 6 paragraph dissertation about how much a dirt bag your boss is, what makes you think that won’t come back on you??
Every now and then I get the “It’s a private blog or I’m just tweeting, no big deal”. First of all, if your blog is open to the public, this means that MILLIONS of people can view it. How in the hell is that private?? Oh, and that ‘just tweeting’ thing may be viewed by hundreds or thousands of people. So, you have to think that SOME HOW, it may get back to your boss!
And you can use that same analogy in your personal life. Think about it. Most of your blogs and your tweets are time stamped. So if you say that you were asleep at 10pm but there is a tweet entry at 11pm, do I need to do the math? Also, if you blog about how disgusting your date was with someone and then decide to see them again, can you get mad if they find out about your post?
In this day of social media, sometimes we lose sight of social responsibility. Remember, sometimes, you live by the TWEET or you die by the TWEET!
The Points and Pitfalls of Paying for Legal Services
I know you’ve the seen the commercials:
“We won’t get a DIME unless we win the case for you!”
You see it all the time and you know what it means. If you are injured in an accident or are injured on the job, you probably will have seen some commercial on the TV that talks about “NO FEES” unless the attorney wins the case.
In most situations, this payment arrangement for a personal injury or workers compensation case is correct. The PROBLEM is that most people THINK that this mechanism for payment is applicable to ALL types of legal cases! Sorry, folks, that simply is NOT true!
Here’s a few POINTS for you who are trying to figure out how to find out if you are going to have to pay for legal services:
1) PRO BONO - i.e. FREE!! Most states have either a requirement or a courtesy requirement that attorneys provide pro bono work. Pro Bono work is usually dictated by the type of case and the financial situation of the client. This situation is best becausd literally, it costs you nothing!
2) CONTINGENCY - these cases are those that are taken based on the notion that you attorneys getting paid their fees are CONTINGENT on their ability to win the case. States vary but these cases are typically common for Personal Injury, Products Liability, Social Security, Workers’ Compensation, and Medical Malpractice, to name a few. The reason these type of case are typically CONTINGENT FEE cases is that these case usually take a while to develop and they usually offer a large payout at the end. In addition, the attorneys who take these cases are taking a RISK that they will win the case. As such, the attorneys typically put money in the case on the front end of the case to develop it with the hope they will get their payment (usually based on some statutorily or legally defined percentage arrangement).
3) BILLABLE HOURS / RETAINER FEE - Most cases usually fall into these categories. When an attorney is asking you to pay a retainer fee, she knows that she’s going to be spending time to adequately your case so this fee will allow her to have a pot of money to POOL from when she’s doing the work. The attorney typically recognizes that they may need you to pay additional monies along the way to ensure that they are working at their billable hour rates. Put simply, these cases are cases where you are asking the attorney to do something for you and the attorney wants payment for the work you’re wanting them to do.
Now, there are variations of these different situations (i.e. partial retainer, partial contingency) and each state differs but these are some things that may be useful to you before you shop for an attorney.
Now, here’s some PITFALLS that tend to throw people off:
1) There are SOME cases that CAN NOT be a contingency fee. In Florida, Criminal Cases and Family Cases can NOT be contingency. For one, courts don’t want attorneys jacking up the monies that can be obtained in Family law cases in order to increase their fees. In Criminal, quite frankly, you’re fighting to preserve the liberties of an individual so there is no FEE to obtained.
2) If you call, the clock runs! People, if you are paying a retainer fee, anytime you call, you will be charged! So many times, people think that attorneys give COURTESY services and get offended when they see that they have been charged for the calls. Listen, you don’t call your doctor to shoot the breeze and if you talk about medicals, they are GOING To make you come in to the office. Well, legal services are the same way. You didn’t HIRE a friend. You HIRED an attorney!
3) You can’t expect to fight a forest fire and only pay for a shot glass of water! So many times, people find themselves FIRED up to want to fight someone based on some injustice. Now, outside of the contingency fee arrangement, you may have to pay for legal services to accomplish this goal. Now, if you have a really complicated case that is going to take a lot of time and energy, you can’t expect a law firm to provide you services just because this is a great opportunity to take down a giant. Attorneys are fighting giants every day so if you want to go ‘toe to toe’ with a big dog, you better be prepared to pay ‘BIG DOG” money to hire them if they require it.
4) Attorneys love a good fight but they gotta feed their family, too! I can’t tell you how many times people pause when I tell them what I charge. Here they are with this lengthy break down of how they have been tried and all this injustice and how they want to drag the other person or company into court and make them fight for every dollar! Then, when you tell them the charge, you hear “I have to pay?” or “I have to pay now?” or “Can you get the case started and I’ll get you on a payment plan?”. Trust me, attorneys can tell you stories about the number of clients who have “stopped paying” or “walked away” or “switched out” in the middle of their case because they didn’t have the money or never intended to pay the money. Attorneys are business people, too. Don’t get me wrong. Most attorneys don’t mind a good fight but let’s be real! You can catch a beat down on the street corner for free. Why go into court and get beat up for free.
5) There is nothing wrong with searching for different attorneys but still be prepared to PAY!! The ultimate issue most people face is that they don’t understand that in the long run, it’s better to come prepared to pay SOMETHING than it is to ‘roll the dice’ and hope that the attorney will take the case on faith. Even if it’s a certain amount of money as down payment, the attorney you’re dealing with will look at you infinitely more favorably if they know that money is going to come as opposed to looking for a hook up.
Paying for legal services is just like anything else. Every state is different but just remember, you get what you pay for and it’s important to know in the beginning what you MAY have to pay so if you need to walk away, you can do so before you waste anyone’s time.
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