Surviving Lawyers - Survey 1

1. Have you hired a lawyer in the past 5 years? Yes No

2. On how many occasions? 1 2 3 4 or more

3. Have you been a party to a lawsuit in the last five years? Yes No
    If yes, were you a Plaintiff ? Defendant? Both?

4. Have you needed a lawyer, but not hired one? Yes No
    If yes, explain why you did not hire a lawyer?
   

5. What did you hire a lawyer to do for you?
Divorce
Real Estate
Consumer Claim
Personal Injury
Business / Corp / Contract
Wills / Trusts / Probate
Other (Please specify )

6. Were you satisfied with the outcome? Yes No
     If no, briefly explain why not
    

7. How did you find your lawyer? (Check those that apply)
Referral by someone I know
Referral by bar association or other lawyer referral service
Phone Book
Internet
Advertisements
Other (Please specify )

8. What is the most you have paid a lawyer for handling a single legal matter? $1,000.00 or less $2,500.00 or less $5,000.00 or less $7,500.00 or less $10,000.00 or less more than $10,000.00 more than $20,000.00

9. Were you surprised by the fees your lawyers charged? Yes No

10. Do you think the attorney fees you paid were a good value? Yes No

11. Do you think the attorney fees you paid were: too high? too low? about right?

12. Next time you hire a lawyer, will you hire the same individual or firm you have worked with previously? Yes No
    If no, briefly explain why not
   

13. Do you have a general opinion of lawyers? Yes No
      If yes, which of the following most closely matches your opinion?
       Lawyers are very smart, reliable, hard working, & trustworthy community leaders Very favorable Favorable Moderately unfavorable Very unfavorable They’re all arrogant jerks

14. Overall, has your experience with lawyers been Negative? Positive?

15. Overall, has your experience with lawyers been a Failure? Success?

16. What was the most positive aspect of your experience with your lawyer?


17. What was the most negative aspect of your experience with your lawyer?


18. Next time you hire a lawyer what one thing will you do differently?


19. What was your biggest mistake in dealing with your lawyers?


20. In your experience with lawyers or the legal system, did you feel overwhelmed, confused, or intimidated at points during the process? Yes No

21. Have you ever filed a grievance against a lawyer? Yes No
      If yes, what was the outcome? Lawyer was disciplined Lawyer was not disciplined

22. Have you ever filed a malpractice claim against a lawyer? Yes No
      If yes, what was the outcome? I won I lost We settled

23. Do you have a general opinion of judges or the judicial system? Yes No
      If yes, which of the following most closely matches your opinion?
      Judges are very smart, reliable, hard working, & trustworthy community leaders Very favorable Favorable Moderately unfavorable Very unfavorable They’re all arrogant jerks
  
24. What was the most positive aspect of your experience with a judge or the judicial system?


25. What was the most negative or frustrating aspect of your experience with a judge or the judicial system?


26. If you could change one aspect of your lawyer’s behavior during his representation, what would it be?


27. What was the most important lesson you learned through your experience with lawyers?


28. What important lesson did your experience with the judicial system teach you?


29. How would you rate your lawyer’s general communication skills? Excellent Superior Good Average Below Average Poor

30. Did or does your lawyer communicate well with you and keep you informed about your legal matter?
     Yes, always No, never Sometimes

31. Did or does your lawyer leave you in the dark or confused about your legal matter?
     Yes, always No, never Sometimes

32. Do you know a good lawyer joke? If so, send it in to jokes@probizwriters.com, and we may add it to the "Consumer's Guide".