1. How can I tell whether an attorney is effective in the courtroom?

Many attorneys call themselves “trial lawyers,” but few actually are. Effective advocates share these characteristics: confidence, preparation, and an ability to “show,” rather than “tell.” Before you retain a litigation attorney, make sure the lawyer knows how to listen and quickly assimilate facts. You’ll be able to assess how well an attorney can “think on her feet,” by the way she asks you questions based on what you’ve already told her about your problem. The ability to ask intelligent, specific questions is key to winning in the courtroom.

2. Can I switch attorneys in the middle of my case?

If you’re uncomfortable with your litigation counsel because they’re not clearly communicating with you, or they don’t seem to have a “game plan” for the case, or they don’t respond to your calls or e-mails in a substantive way, it may be time to change law firms.

While you will undoubtedly suffer extra expense for new counsel to learn the file, you may be pleasantly surprised at how quickly and effectively they can move the case forward with the kind of energy and creativity that was lacking in your first choice of counsel. Your file belongs to you, and attorneys who’ve represented you are obligated to transfer it if you request them to do so.

3. How can I be certain my case will get top priority at this law firm?

At Holstein Law Group we are very careful to agree to represent only those companies and executives we can actually help. As a boutique law firm, we are not funding huge offices around the globe, nor are we providing a training ground for young associates. We carefully screen clients and litigation matters before we agree to sign on as counsel. Every pleading has our name on it, and we consider our own law firm’s investment in a case to be equal to our client’s. Our reputation is at stake and that’s why every client is a top priority.

4. Is this going to cost me an arm and a leg?

Our rates are competitive in the Twin Cities legal market. We fight against large – even huge – law firms on a daily basis; we do more than hold our own; we often perform better and more effectively. When companies seek counsel at large law firms, they certainly care about the cost of legal fees, but they are also resigned to paying “top dollar,” because, well, “it’s a large law firm.” In contrast, potential clients who seek our services at Holstein Law Group sometimes think their legal fees will be significantly less because we’re small. Not necessarily true.

Our lawyers and our aggressive litigation style at Holstein Law Group are equal to those good trial lawyers in large law firms. In other words, while our small size allows for some economies of scale, we’re still fighting on the same battlefield with the “big boys,” and that fight is often expensive.

To effectively advocate for clients, we need to litigate with the benefit of up-to-date technology, the best research available, and top-notch expert advice. All this costs money. At Holstein Law Group, we give clients a good-faith estimate of the cost of litigation when the case begins. We e-mail, call, and text clients (depending on how they like to be contacted) on a consistent basis – often daily – with updates on their case progress. Our billing statements explain exactly what work each attorney and paralegal performs. Most of all, we partner with our clients to achieve the best results, at a fair value. When they return to us for legal advice – and many do – we know we’ve done our job.