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STATEMENT OF CLIENT'S RESPONSIBILITIES
Reciprocal trust, courtesy and respect
are the hall-marks of the attorney-client relationship. Within that
relationship, the client looks to the attorney for exper-tise, education,
sound judgment, protection, advocacy and representation. These expectations
can be achieved, only if the client fulfills the following responsibilities:
1. The client is expected to treat the lawyer and the lawyer's staff
with courtesy and consideration.
2. The client's relationship with the lawyer must be one of complete
candor and the lawyer must be ap-prised of all facts or circumstances
of the matter being handled by the lawyer even if the client believes
that those facts may be detrimental to the client's cause or unflattering
to the client.
3. The client must honor the fee arrangement as agreed to with the lawyer,
in accordance with law.
4. All bills for services rendered which are tendered to the client
pursuant to the agreed upon fee arrange-ment should be paid promptly.
5. The client may withdraw from the attorney-client relationship, subject
to financial commitments under the agreed to fee arrangement, and, in
certain circumstances, subject to court approval.
6. Although the client should expect that his or her correspondence,
telephone calls and other communica-tions will be answered within a
reasonable time frame, the client should recognize that the lawyer has
other clients equally demanding of the lawyer's time and attention.
7. The client should maintain contact with the law-yer, promptly notify
the lawyer of any change in tele-phone number or address and respond
promptly to a request by the lawyer for information and cooperation.
8. The client must realize that the lawyer need re-spect only legitimate
objectives of the client and that the lawyer will not advocate or propose
positions which are unprofessional or contrary to law or the Lawyer's
Code of Professional responsibility.
9. The lawyer may be unable to accept a case if the lawyer has previous
professional commitments which will result in inadequate time being
available for the proper representation of a new client.
10. A lawyer is under no obligation to accept a client if the lawyer
determines that the cause of the client is without merit, a conflict
of interest would exist or that a suitable working relationship with
the client is not likely.
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