Both the client and the attorney are now bound together by a partnership in which the attorney has the duty to advise his client as to what can realistically be achieved and the steps necessary. In the initial stages it is more difficult to evaluate the outcome that one may expect. As the case progresses and the evidential documents have been obtained, this evaluation process becomes more accurate, although the outcome is never a sure thing.<\/p>\n

Through a dialogue between the client and the attorney it is important for the client to share his or her expectations. At first this may seem rather straightforward but in fact there are many elements that need to be weighed which can and does change one’s expectations.<\/p>\n

It has been my experience in representing clients that they normally take a very realistic approach with regard to what can reasonably be achieved and they work closely with the attorney throughout the process.<\/p>\n

Eventually there will be a point in time or possibly various points in time, when a decision will need to be made as to whether or not a proposed settlement should be accepted or rejected. The main factor that will affect the decision to accept or reject an offer can be stated in one word “Predictability”. In other words, does it make more sense to accept the offer that is on the table and know the outcome of your case, or is the value of an offer below the amount that you believe makes the risk of going forward the better choice?<\/p>\n

At some point an assessment is made by the client that the certainty of receiving a given amount outweighs the risk of a trial, which may or may not result in a better outcome, as well as the possibility that everything could be lost notwithstanding the fact that a settlement results in receiving payment now rather than later. This is the same decision that the defendant must weigh in deciding to make an offer of settlement. In making this decision you have to ask yourself should I go to trial and put my fate in the hands of another.<\/p>\n

Photo Credit: Shutterstock\/Rawpixel.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

You have just made a major decision in your life by selecting a California Labor Attorney to represent you in your claim […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[269],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1819","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-attorney-client-relationship"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n