What should I ask the lawyer

[mrs.v23]

I am going to see the lawyer that represented my husband monday. He got sentenced 3 years and has already completed 1. Honnestly I am completely burnt out on stressing over when is he getting out. Can someone give me some suggestions on what I should ask them other than the obvious of when he is coming home. I just need something to get started. I am like blank. I don't know what all to ask really. Niether one of us have been in trouble before so this whole thing is new.

[yourself]

Sit down, take a deep breath. Get a piece of paper and a pen and write out the questions you want to ask.

Ask the attorney to explain the sentence to you
Ask what good time and other credits he's eligible for and if there's anything he has to do to get them
Ask the attorney to show you the math on when your LO gets out

Other than that, just start scribbling down any question you have, no matter how silly it seems to you. Do NOT be intimidated - keep asking until you understand it. We sometimes forget that it took us a while to understand everything, and we work in the field. Sometimes, too, we don't understand that we're assuming knowledge you don't have, so if something doesn't make sense, ask. There is no sin in asking until you understand something.

Also, ask if there's a way the attorney or a paralegal can answer questions you have later, via email. Guarantee you the moment you leave the office, you'll remember something you forgot to ask.

Good luck.

[CAPTA!NS G!RL**]

Yeah ask the lawyer anything u might have in mind..in our case our lawyer is always too. Busy" and hardly picks up his phone. So when he actually does answer me I just aks him a lot of question about my husbands case. But go ahead and feel free to ask him anything you want is ok : )..take care

[CenTexLyn]

Do not be surprised if the attorney cannot do a lot of discussion about impact of good time. I see this frequently in Texas. It isn't something that they teach in law school and collateral consequences are something you pretty much learn only if you do a lot of work in post-conviction areas of criminal defense. That lack of common knowledge helped me carve the niche that I have when it comes to Texas practices...

[mrs.v23]

Thank you. I was surprised that they are letting me come in. It's just it's been a year and 2months already and it's like we still don't fully understand everything. I have two pages front and back with questions. I guess I was clueless but Ithought after a ;awyer represents a client and that client goes to prison the least the lawyer can do is check on the inmates family and see if they have questions. But I guess that's not how it works. But thanks yall I'm going to continue working on more questions.

[yourself]

Originally Posted by mrs.v23

Thank you. I was surprised that they are letting me come in. It's just it's been a year and 2months already and it's like we still don't fully understand everything. I have two pages front and back with questions. I guess I was clueless but Ithought after a ;awyer represents a client and that client goes to prison the least the lawyer can do is check on the inmates family and see if they have questions. But I guess that's not how it works. But thanks yall I'm going to continue working on more questions.

Sorry, but that's not how it works. OUr obligation is to the client, not the family. I don't like playing family politics in my own family - getting involved with family politics in a client's family is a whole 'nother version of potential hell. You need to remember, not all families are close, not all families communicate, not all families are interested. Throw in families that include both girlfriends and baby-mommas, and the headache gets huge. Then throw in a client who doesn't want you to communicate with half his family, and doesn't want you to tell the truth to the other half.... ugh!

My job is to represent my client in court. What happens with my client's family is up to the client and family.

[laneyb]

Originally Posted by mrs.v23

Thank you. I was surprised that they are letting me come in. It's just it's been a year and 2months already and it's like we still don't fully understand everything. I have two pages front and back with questions. I guess I was clueless but Ithought after a ;awyer represents a client and that client goes to prison the least the lawyer can do is check on the inmates family and see if they have questions. But I guess that's not how it works. But thanks yall I'm going to continue working on more questions.

"Yourself" stated it well, I only add to remember Georgia is a "do the time state" - no "good time" is officially awarded by GA prisons. Your hope for release in less time than the full sentence is through the Parole Board.
As he has served 1/3 of his sentence the board will be looking at his case for parole. If I remember correctly his charge was VH with no special circumstances - just a horrible accident? If my memory is good and he's had no issues while incarcerated he should be awarded parole. Again in GA it may be a few months before he receives a TPM - keep writing and phoning the board and remember - keep it professional - they do not want to hear how much he is missed and needed at home.

good luck with the attorney - there are some really good ones in Georgia!

[KamisSister]

If you want more information about how things in work in Georgia, there is a forum for Georgia on this website. It's under the states http://prisontalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=138 and there are probably some folks there who know more specific things about Georgia. If you have already found this I am sorry. It just took me awhile to find my way around on here.

[mrs.v23]

Originally Posted by yourself

Sorry, but that's not how it works. OUr obligation is to the client, not the family. I don't like playing family politics in my own family - getting involved with family politics in a client's family is a whole 'nother version of potential hell. You need to remember, not all families are close, not all families communicate, not all families are interested. Throw in families that include both girlfriends and baby-mommas, and the headache gets huge. Then throw in a client who doesn't want you to communicate with half his family, and doesn't want you to tell the truth to the other half.... ugh!

My job is to represent my client in court. What happens with my client's family is up to the client and family.

Well thank you for your input. I said that because I know many lawyers that do at least check on the family in Ga. I understand where your coming from I just personally feel out of respect if you have a client who worked with you and so did the family and you know their situation/stuggles and what you said doesn't happen in court it shouldnt be a big problem or hassle to checkin at least once to see if they have any questions. Many lawyers fail to realize that out side of the victims that lost a member of there family or had a crime done upon them there is a whole other set of victims too and thats the inmates family. I know many lawyers do check in time to time it was just out luck that ours doesnt but it doesnt matter how much work I have to do on my end to get what I need out of them. And as far as the obligation I fully respect what you mean by that, however not ever family is completely disfunctional and the client is not the only obligation in that situation the family is part. Like with my husband and my self we arnt two seprate people we are one so anything dealing with him deals with me two. I know that may sound corny.lol but thats how our whole family is. Our particular lawyer after court said well that is it to me and walked away. That to me is far from professional. I see it as if we pay a lot of money to you at least be compassionate to an extent

[mrs.v23]

Originally Posted by KamisSister

If you want more information about how things in work in Georgia, there is a forum for Georgia on this website. It's under the states http://prisontalk.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=138 and there are probably some folks there who know more specific things about Georgia. If you have already found this I am sorry. It just took me awhile to find my way around on here.

Thank you I did not know about it

[mrs.v23]

Originally Posted by laneyb

"Yourself" stated it well, I only add to remember Georgia is a "do the time state" - no "good time" is officially awarded by GA prisons. Your hope for release in less time than the full sentence is through the Parole Board.
As he has served 1/3 of his sentence the board will be looking at his case for parole. If I remember correctly his charge was VH with no special circumstances - just a horrible accident? If my memory is good and he's had no issues while incarcerated he should be awarded parole. Again in GA it may be a few months before he receives a TPM - keep writing and phoning the board and remember - keep it professional - they do not want to hear how much he is missed and needed at home.

good luck with the attorney - there are some really good ones in Georgia!

Thanks that gives us a little bit of hope. I know when I call the parole board they say it takes 3 to 12 months to reach a decison. I would think that with a simple straight forward case it wouldnt take even 3months but who knows. Oh and thats yeah when I write them I always talk about the good he did before incarceration and how he donated somethings while in prison. So were praying it all works out for the best

[yourself]

Originally Posted by mrs.v23

Well thank you for your input. I said that because I know many lawyers that do at least check on the family in Ga. I understand where your coming from I just personally feel out of respect if you have a client who worked with you and so did the family and you know their situation/stuggles and what you said doesn't happen in court it shouldnt be a big problem or hassle to checkin at least once to see if they have any questions. Many lawyers fail to realize that out side of the victims that lost a member of there family or had a crime done upon them there is a whole other set of victims too and thats the inmates family. I know many lawyers do check in time to time it was just out luck that ours doesnt but it doesnt matter how much work I have to do on my end to get what I need out of them. And as far as the obligation I fully respect what you mean by that, however not ever family is completely disfunctional and the client is not the only obligation in that situation the family is part. Like with my husband and my self we arnt two seprate people we are one so anything dealing with him deals with me two. I know that may sound corny.lol but thats how our whole family is. Our particular lawyer after court said well that is it to me and walked away. That to me is far from professional. I see it as if we pay a lot of money to you at least be compassionate to an extent

Listen, I'm well aware of the collateral damage. My brother served close to a decade in both state and federal prison. I spent a lot of time translating the law to our parents and extended family. I did not represent my brother in any court proceeding. In fact, I did not put either of us in a position where he could interpret our relationship as attorney/client. To do so would have silenced me in regards to our parents and extended family.

Attorneys have a duty of confidentiality to their client, not the client's family.

You pay for representation of your LO in court. We're not family therapists. I'm not about to get into family politics, especially if it comes at the expense of my client.

The rules of professional conduct for each jurisdiction are readily available online. Further, many jurisdictions allow you to file a complaint online. You will find that there's no rule mandating contact with the client's family - and that's for good reason. You will also find that a complaint about professionalism for not keeping the client's family sufficient informed will go absolutely nowhere.

[mrs.v23]

Originally Posted by yourself

Listen, I'm well aware of the collateral damage. My brother served close to a decade in both state and federal prison. I spent a lot of time translating the law to our parents and extended family. I did not represent my brother in any court proceeding. In fact, I did not put either of us in a position where he could interpret our relationship as attorney/client. To do so would have silenced me in regards to our parents and extended family.

Attorneys have a duty of confidentiality to their client, not the client's family.

You pay for representation of your LO in court. We're not family therapists. I'm not about to get into family politics, especially if it comes at the expense of my client.

The rules of professional conduct for each jurisdiction are readily available online. Further, many jurisdictions allow you to file a complaint online. You will find that there's no rule mandating contact with the client's family - and that's for good reason. You will also find that a complaint about professionalism for not keeping the client's family sufficient informed will go absolutely nowhere.

Really where can I do this at online for Atlanta? I have never heard of that

[laneyb]

mrs.v23 -
The Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and the Georgia Bar Association both accept complaints on line, via telephone and email or letter. While not wanting to go the therapists route we do speak to one, possibly two other family members with the client's permission. This is intended to provide updates; however harsh it seems, the attorney's involvement was completed at sentencing. Do not be shocked if you receive an invoice after your impending visit. Any information the attorney provides regarding parole can be obtained via other sources and any dates or time frame he may provide would be conjecture as the decision rests with the Parole Board.

The Parole board does not meet to review cases and render decisions. This is done individually after the field officer completes his report with each board member passing the file to the next member. This method definitely increases the delay.

I wish you well

[fbopnomore]

Here are the GA Bar Assn rules of professional conduct.
http://www.gabar.org/barrules/ethics...lism/index.cfm

http://www.gabar.org/barrules/handbook.cfm