If you can help your lawyer to
reduce his time your bills will be lower. Do not present your lawyer with a crazed story,
full of sound and fury but with no legal value in it.
First write out what happened in
full detail on paper and make sure it is very clear, complete with dates and events
happening.
When you
describe your case, please substantiate with documents. Put all these documents in order,
with the story on top, send them to your lawyer and ask him to read first.
After he
has done that, then make an appointment to see him. You will be surprised the difference
it makes. The meeting with your lawyer will go fast and smoothly. The lawyer will ask you
about any points that are not clear from the documents you gave him.
From then on, keep in mind that
your objective is to get the debtor to pay you. Do not get so wrapped up in the
proceedings that it becomes a mission to punish the debtor.
Anywhere
in the proceedings, the debtor’s lawyer may suggest an out-of-court
settlement. Think
very carefully before you turn it down. Your legal costs will never be any less.
The more
you can bury your pride and anger, and see the whole legal process as a procedure, the
more likely you will come out ahead. It also means less time spent talking to your lawyer
about your emotional reactions to the whole legal process. He will listen to your
problems, and guide you away from irrational decisions -- but it will cost you.
The
statistics are good: less than 10% of the Magistrates’ Court summonses for debts ever
go to trial or to arbitration at the court. The rest are settled out-of-court before they
get to the hearing.
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