Statement
of Client’s Rights
1) You are entitled to be treated with courtesy and consideration at all times
by your lawyer and the other lawyers and nonlawyer personnel in your lawyer's
office.
2) You are entitled to have your attorney handle your legal matter competently
and diligently, in accordance with the highest standards of the profession.
If you are not satisfied with how your matter is being handled, you have the
right to discharge your attorney and terminate the attorney client relationship
at any time . (Court approval may be required in some matters, and your attorney
may have a claim against you for the value of services rendered to you up to
the point of discharge.)
3) You are entitled to your lawyer's independent professional judgment and undivided
loyalty uncompromised by conflicts of interest.
4) You are entitled to be charged a reasonable fee and expenses and to have
your lawyer explain before, or within, a reasonable time after commencement
of the representation how the fees and expenses will be computed, and the manner
and frequency of billing. You are entitled to request and receive a written
itemized bill from your attorney at reasonable intervals. You may refuse to
enter into any fee arrangement for fees and expenses that you find unsatisfactory.
In the event of a fee dispute, you may have the right to seek arbitration; your
attorney will provide you with the necessary information regarding arbitration
in the event of a fee dispute, or upon your request.
5) You are entitled to have your questions and concerns addressed promptly and
to receive a prompt reply to your letters, telephone calls, emails, faxes, and
other communications.
6) You are entitled to be kept reasonably informed as to the status of your
matter and are entitled to have your attorney promptly comply with your reasonable
requests for information, including your requests for copies of papers relevant
to the matter. You are entitled to sufficient information to allow you to participate
meaningfully in the development of your matter and make informed decisions regarding
the representation.
7) You are entitled to have your legitimate objectives respected by your attorney,
in particular, the decision of whether to settle your matter is yours and not
your lawyer's. (Court approval of a settlement is required
in some matters.)
8) You have the right to privacy in your communications with your lawyer and
to have your confidential information preserved by your lawyer to the extent
required by law.
9) You are entitled to have your attorney conduct himself or herself ethically
in accordance with the New York Rules of Professional Conduct.
10) You may not be refused representation on the basis of race, creed, color,
religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin or disability.
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