Basic concepts
First of all, clients should know that it is the law’s mission to define the different stages and procedures corresponding to each judicial process. Going to court must be considered the last resort and must only be done when there is no other solution.
Lawsuits may have a high cost. Therefore, the client needs to be aware of whether he/she can take them on financially, since payments agreed upon with the professional must be made and complied with by the client. This lays the foundations of a relationship based on mutual trust.
During a lawsuit, whether more or less complex, the client will be given the help of several professionals:
The Lawyer The legal direction of the trial depends on the lawyer: he/she must draw up the documents, decide which evidence is more suitable, etc. In short, the lawyer represents the client’s interests and informs the judge of the case on which he/she has to pronounce. The lawyer’s role is, therefore, decisive.
The Solicitor His/her task is to represent clients before the judge and also be present at hearings on their behalf. He/she also presents the documents previously written by the lawyer.
The Expert Witness In certain cases, the testimony of expert witnesses may be necessary. In this sense, you should know that the participation of both expert witnesses and solicitors might entail a significant cost; clients must therefore be informed of this. You should also be aware that under no circumstances do we have financial agreements of any kind with them and neither are they part of our organisation. For this reason, we recommend our clients deal with them directly.
The Judge Once all the stages of the lawsuit have been completed, the judge will be in charge of passing sentence by taking into account the evidence and documents presented. Trials entail a certain risk as, however clear the client’s reason may seem, evidence may not always be conclusive and the judge may consider it insufficient.
When you come to our firm, we first assess whether your lawsuit may succeed in the case of a judicial proceeding. From the first advisory meeting, Alonso Cuervo shares all the information he may have with his clients and provides them with clear and truthful guidance with regard to:
How much the process may cost: We will prepare an estimation based on the information provided by the client. This information must be as extensive as possible in order to have an initial and precise overview of the magnitude of each case and to be able to warn the client of the expense that the participation of solicitors and external professionals (such as expert witnesses, notaries, registrars, etc.) may entail. Depending on the type of judicial proceeding initiated and the final resolution, the fees paid by the client may be reimbursed. He/she will also be informed of this.
How long the process may take: The client will receive an estimation of the time the process may take to be resolved, although the final duration will depend on the court to which the case has been assigned.