Working with your lawyer (friendly advice)

Today we have Aunty Jenny, to give you some friendly advice on how to work with your lawyer. Some of you may have unreasonable expectations, and these need to be managed.

Here is Aunty Jenny, our auntie agony wannabe character, speaking to you in what we hope is relatable and easy to understand words – about working with your lawyer.

Ah bro, I know times are tough lah. Every dollar counts hor. But don’t be kiasu and pinch pennies until your lawyer also buay song, okay?

Lawyers got study so many years, get degree, pass bar exam, everything not easy one. Their time also very valuable leh. So don’t expect them to work for peanuts. Where got so cheap one?

If you want a good lawyer to fight your case, you gotta pay reasonable price lah. Not everything also can bargain until like buying kailan at the wet market. Later your lawyer will just malas-malas handle your case, then how? End up you lose the case, then you will complain why the lawyer so lousy. Walau eh.

I know you rich towkays like to count every cent. But don’t be so kiamsiap and make things difficult for your lawyer. They are professionals providing skilled services, not your laborer or odd-job labor. Pay them properly so they will take care of you properly. It’s only fair what.

If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. Simple as that. So don’t be kancheong and haggle until the lawyer also frustrated. Be reasonable lah bro. Then everything will be win-win. Your lawyer happy, you also happy. Problem solved! That’s my advice. Hope it helps ah.

Aiyah, let me tell you about my friend Ah Beng. This guy engaged a lawyer to handle his case, some business dispute. But heh, this Ah Beng was real kancheong spider, kept calling and messaging his lawyer 10 times a day, asking for updates and progress reports.

The lawyer tried to explain that legal cases take time and got process, need to file documents, attend hearings, wait for judge etc. Cannot be instant mee one. But this Ah Beng just refused to listen. Kept pressuring the lawyer to settle the case immediately.

And some more, the lawyer’s fees were quite reasonable for the amount of work required. But this stingy fellow kept asking for discounts and negotiating lower and lower. In the end paid the lawyer peanuts only. But still expected super high class service!

After a while, the lawyer had enough liao. Every day this difficult client only know how to make noise and complain, never happy one. In the end, the lawyer told Ah Beng: “Sorry bro, I cannot tahan already. Please find another lawyer. I discharge myself from your case.”

Aiyo, suddenly Ah Beng realized he made a big mistake. Tried to persuade the lawyer to take him back, even offered to pay more. But the lawyer said “Enough is enough lah! I don’t need this kind of headache in my life.”

Moral of the story is, don’t be like Ah Beng. Trust your lawyer, give them space to do work. Legal cases cannot be rushed one, be patient. And pay them properly, don’t expect Ferrari service with kancil money. Lawyers are professionals with families to feed also, show them basic respect lah.

If you treat your lawyer well, they will treat you well too. Win-win situation mah. But if you drive them crazy with your unreasonable behavior, don’t blame them if they cabut. You play, you pay. Be nice, and life will be less stressful for everyone.

Wah seh, I just thought of another friend’s story that is quite relevant. This guy got married, had big wedding banquet at 5 star hotel, went Europe honeymoon, everything top class. But a few years later, they decide to divorce liao.

At this time, my friend suddenly become very kiamsiap. He tell me he want to find the cheapest lawyer possible for the divorce. I ask him “Eh, how can like that? This is very important decision what!”

But he said no choice, because he spent too much on the wedding and honeymoon until bank account almost empty. So now trying to save money on the lawyer fees. In the end, he found some new lawyer who just started practice only and very inexperienced.

Come to the divorce settlement, this rookie lawyer didn’t give him good advice. He kena lowball settlement and even have to give more money to his wife. He was so angry and asked me “Eh, how can like that one? This lawyer is lousy leh!”

I had to tell him – “Hello, you pay peanuts then you get monkey lah! You married big big but divorce small small, how can? Be a bit more generous to your lawyer lah, then they will fight better for you.”

Moral is, don’t be so shortsighted. The lawyer is there to protect your interests during this difficult time. Pay them properly so they will serve you properly. Think long term and be wise in your spending.

Thank you for reading!

This article has been prepared to help you understand how to work with your lawyer. It was prepared for informational purposes, and to provide entertainment. It is not meant to be treated as legal advice. Please check with a licensed lawyer before you make any decision based on this article!