Remember to discuss fees before hiring counsel to handle your case. You can ask about estimated costs of an engagement, or for a budget. You also can check statements carefully when they arrive and ask questions about them. You should be aware which fees and costs are tax deductible and which are not. Don't lose interest.
Many managers think that once a case goes to the lawyer, that's all it takes.
That's not true. You often can help deal with friendly witnesses and with gathering facts in libraries, on the Internet and from the public record. The more work you do, the less time your attorney will spend, and the less you'll pay. Along with most lawyers, the State Bar recommends preventive law. This, over time, develops the art of staying out of trouble.