Getting Best Value
At Corcoran French, we aim to provide you with cost-effective practical legal advice. To help us provide this cost-effective service, there are some things that you can do to help.
Get advice sooner rather than later
People often delay consulting us until the problem gets serious. By that time it may be too late to avoid a real crisis – it may even be too late for us to do much to help you at all.
Even if you are unsure whether you have a legal problem, a few minutes discussion with us may save you months, or years, of worry.
Write it down
Putting your problem on paper will help you. Write a time line that documents the series of events. “This happened on the 1st at 4.00pm. I received letter from XXX on the 5th. I sent this on the 10th etc.”. Make sure also that you have gathered any important documents that we may need.
Give this information and any copy of relevant documents to us in advance of our meeting, so we can read it beforehand and familiarise ourselves with your situation. This is much quicker for us (and less expensive for you) than to ‘tell your story’ during an appointment.
Be prepared
If you have questions to ask us, try to work them out clearly and write them down before our meeting.
You may find it helpful to head a blank sheet of paper with your problem and to list the issues involved. Try to be clear about the problems to which you want answers, as well as the outcome you want to achieve – it maybe you want an apology, or you’re seeking some form of compensation. Let us have this material before our meeting. Try not to give us unclear or vague information, be as accurate as you can. Otherwise it may be harder for us, and may be more expensive for you, to get to the root of the problem.
Be concise
We will devote as much time and effort as you need to achieve the outcome you want. Remember though, that for most matters, the fee we will charge you depends mainly on the urgency, value to you and the time involved.
Some legal matters are complicated and understandably take time to discuss and research. So if you take an hour to explain things to us (when we could have read it before you came in in 20 minutes), then this time will be taken into account when you are billed.
Respond promptly
Respond as soon as you can to any of our letters (emails) that we may send to you looking for information. There may be legal time limits which have to be met and delay may cause you serious problems. If you are unable to reply immediately, please tell us. If we have to write to you or ring you three or four times to get information the extra work usually means extra cost.
Can it wait?
You may think of questions to ask or information that you should pass on. Before you pick up the phone, reflect for a moment whether this needs immediate action or whether it can wait until the next time you see us. If it really needs action now or if there is a crisis or serious problem, then of course let us know straight away.
Please remember, though, that frequent phone calls to us may add to your cost. If your query can wait, it may be better to write if down (so you don’t forget it) and raise it when you next see us or, better still, email us.
Ask for an estimate
For most straightforward transactions we should be able to give you an estimate or a price band ($ to $) of the cost. For long or complicated legal assignments, it may be difficult to give you an estimate, but even then we will try. All you have to do is ask. Also check our credit policy for more information about how we charge.
Pay the bill
You rightly expect us to handle your instructions punctually, and we will do so. In the same way, we expect you to pay our bill by the due date (14 days after date of invoice). So when you instruct us to act for you ensure you have arrangements in hand to pay your account within this time frame. One of the best ways of making sure affairs are handled promptly is to pay on time for the service you receive. There is more information available in our credit policy.
If for any reason you cannot pay on time please call our general manager credit policy but please do it when you get the bill – don’t wait until the last minute. We are always sympathetic to clients who have a genuine problem with payment.
