My son loves cars. He’s always loved cars…and tractors… and trucks and anything with wheels.

As he got older, he began to specialize and since he was 6, its been all about Formula One Race Car Driving.

One of his favorite drivers was the Finnish driver, Kimi Räikkönen. In 2012, we were watching one of his races on tv. It was the Grand Prix series in Abu Dhabi. Apparently, Kimi Räikkönen was getting a bit fed up with the coaching over his earpiece and said, “Just leave me alone; I know what I am doing.”

It immediately went viral and I had to look at quote on my son's tee shirt for years until he outgrew it! 

Unfortunately, this attitude is not limited to elite race car drivers – it’s how lawyers can respond to clients when we’re busy, stressed and have a lot on our plates.  While most of us DO know what we’re doing, it doesn’t mean YOU know what we’re doing.  And by not taking the time to explain the plan, we can miss the chance to confirm your goals.

By not making sure you understand what we’re doing, we could miss out on your insights into your partner, your life and therefore your case.  After all, YOU are the expert on you and your life. But we could miss that key information if you aren't clear on how it fits into your case so you don't tell us.  

We don’t know what we don’t know so we might miss it. Sure we'll get the big picture items but we risk missing a real gem by not working closely as a team.  And if we miss changes in your view, your family and your circumstances, we could miss the chance to shift your case toward a settlement. We could miss the chance to settle and save you thousands of dollars, weeks or months of time waiting for trial and who knows how much stress.

While the Rikkonen, “I know what I am doing” approach may SEEM more efficient; or cranking through our “zones” on the way to the trial finish line may get you there, it’s not ideal.

What can you do to make sure you end up on the team.

START with your consultation. Don’t settle for someone TELLING you what “you can get”

• Make sure you find someone who listens to what you want and works with you to find the closest winning match
• Make sure that one of the things you take away from your consultation is clarity around your goals
• Make sure you get the information you need about your rights and responsibilities AND the process so you're clear on the plan for your case

NEXT make sure your Lawyer spends as much (or more) time advising you on strategy than arguing in court (or if they don’t, make sure you are clear on why court is the best option).

• There’s a time for advocacy and argument but statistically, you're more likely to settle (over 90% of cases settle).  So, shouldn’t that be the focus of your case? Make sure you get the advice and have the conversations you need to get to settlement rather than simply going back to court again and again
• Find out what the plan is.  It’s not enough for your lawyer to “know what they’re doing” YOU need to know so you can help with your case
• Cooperate with your attorney and get them what they need. Ask them to explain next steps.  Make sure you share your goals with your lawyer. And keep them updated as things change.  Don’t hold back important information. Your lawyer can only help you in your case if they are clear on what is going on in your life.

 We wish you all the best as you round that last curve before crossing your Grand Prix finish line!