What are my responsibilities as a client?

According to the State Bar of Arizona, when you hire a lawyer, you have the responsibility to:

• Give the lawyer a truthful and candid recitation of the facts of your case. A lawyer can only help a client when there has been full disclosure. You have the responsibility to promptly notify the lawyer of changed circumstances.
• Give the lawyer prompt responses to reasonable and necessary requests.
• Understand that the lawyer has many other clients and to realize that other clients are equally deserving of the lawyer’s time and efforts.
• Set appointments in advance rather than showing up at the office and expecting to be seen.
• Treat the lawyer with courtesy and respect.
• Communicate in a timely manner with the lawyer if you are unhappy regarding the representation and the reasons why.
• Refrain from asking the lawyer to engage in behavior which is inappropriate, unethical, unprofessional, or illegal.
• Be on time for all legal proceedings.
• Pay the agreed-upon lawyer’s fee in a prompt manner. If unforeseen circumstances arise concerning payment, you should inform the lawyer of the reasons for nonpayment. If any billing entries are in question, you should give immediate notice to the lawyer.