How to Control Your Legal Costs by Preparing a Chronology Before You Engage a Lawyer

If you engage a lawyer…

With a dispute matter.

You are in control of

• your COSTS;
• TIMING; and
• even SUCCESS in your matter.

Let me explain.

Here is some free advice.

Prepare a chronology.

Don’t wait to be asked. Just do it.

A brief date followed by issue chronology.

Identify the parties or people as accurately as you can.

Link documents where relevant to the chronology.

Like this:

CHRONOLOGY

1. On 26 May 2025 I first engaged Bob to fix my roof (see ‘Email 26 May 2025’).
2. On 28 May 2025 I received a quote (see ‘Quote May’).
3. On 28 May 2025 I sent an email enquiring about start date and extra costs (see text ‘Text Qs).

Etc etc

If you have 13 documents give the lawyer all of them. At the START.

Yes, I said ‘ALL’ of them.

Not just the ‘relevant’ ones.

Why?

Remember, the lawyer might find something in there that is relevant that you weren’t aware of.

Dropping new documents late in a matter is a sure way to cause extra costs and news issues too.

This is a BIG one , trust me, they want to hear your story BUT time is money and if you want to understand things fast get advice fast get your matter moving fast get them the documents presented simply at the start.

Plus ask them what they need to know first.

Once you are obtaining advice tell them what you want. Even if it seems ‘cray cray’ (as my daughter would say). Just tell them. There are often various options, various outcomes. Maybe it is crazy but knowing what you want can be an early expectation test.

Plus, ask them all about costs at the start of your matter.

I bet most lawyers are like me, at least I hope so, I want my client to pay the least amount of costs to get their matter from A to B.

I don’t have a shortage of new matters coming in but I have a limited amount of time and I want your matter to get to resolution at $10,000 rather than $20,000 if I can help it.

After all, you will be happier, the matter moves more efficiently and we can help more people in the same amount of time.

Remember, lawyers have to pick up on all the detail and history of your matter as as quickly as possible. The chronology allows them to see the big picture, the ‘woods from the trees’ if you like and the documents allow them to ‘dig into the detail’.

They need to hear your story. Don’t get me wrong and they want to hear it because oral evidence can be critical. But start matter well will start things moving in the right direction for YOU!

I hope that helps any would be litigants + do yourself a favour:

• Ask all about costs and know where you’re going at the outset.
• Know what different stages of your matter will cost and what may impact them being higher or lower.

Plus don’t be afraid to get a second opinion. I am often advising defendants where an insurer is instructing their defence and they want a second opinion. This can be a smart move to ensure your matter is moving in the right direction and you’re interests are protected.

This article is a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

Tagged as:

• litigation
• legal practice