You hear people griping about the cost of litigation lawyers. The socialist-student-worker-miser believes capitalism is inherently evil. Someone is out to screw him.

The truth is 'yes', someone is out to screw you, and will, but only if you let them. They're not obliged to get you the best deal, and you're not obliged to take the first deal they offer.

The law firm's area of expertise: Some law firms websites make it appear the firm specialises in litigation, but their experience is elsewhere. A misinterpretation of pertinent law could be harmful to your case.

Ask what will be expected as a retainer. If you like a litigation lawyer feel free to haggle over fees and retainers. A lawyer likes to charge by the hour, but often rates can be negotiated.

There are too many advocates with too few clients today. You can get a better deal. Be sure and cover contingencies with him. What will it cost if the unexpected occurs? You want to know before you get a huge bill.

Any litigation lawyer site on the internet you find should be scrutinised according to the following checklist:

• Has it got a company name?;
• Has it got a registered office?;
• Has it got a telephone number?;
• How long has the company been in business?;
• How quick are they to respond to queries?;
• How far away are they from you physically?;
• Has it got a street address, rather than a P.O. box?;
• Are litigation lawyer company personnel mentioned by name on the site?

Once you've settled on a few litigation lawyer company, you can enter their business name in a search engine with the words 'problem' or 'scam', and see what comes up.

How to spot a dubious litigation lawyer company: If you can get to their offices, have a look around. What is your first impression? Lethargic or Dynamic? Obscure or Direct? Clean or Dirty?

Don't let your greed for a fat payout override your instincts. Your instincts are probably right. If a thing is right for you, it'll work right from the beginning. If you find you keep having problems, bail out, and don't look back. People often throw good money after bad, and good effort after bad. They've invested so much, they think they have to 'see it through'. WROOOONNNNG!

It's very easy to set up as company offering litigation services on the internet, without any qualifications, or even having an office. This makes it very easy for crooks and incompetents to gip the desperate. A 'substantial site' is one with a postal address, telephone number, named personnel and preferably a member of, or regulated by, the relevant authority.

Some people can't grasp the meaning of large sums of money. They take months to acquire a fridge, but get start up a £233,000 litigation on a whim. It's a buzz! Reason goes out the door. They may have been in a dead-end job before, and now they're going to realise their dream, by jingo!

It's understandable. There's a certain amount of romance, if you're a first-time litigant. Destiny beckons. You're excited, the wife is excited, the kids are excited.

Now is the time to get out pen, paper and calculator and do some sums. What's the worst that could happen?

Do you have enough money to cover the lawyer's expenses if you lose?

You should ask yourself if you truly need a litigation lawyer. Do you really need to start proceedings? A long-running court-case can hang like a sword of Damocles over your head.

Can you manage without? While law firms might might make it easy for you initially, they're not your friends. They're in business to make money. Whatever happens, they get paid. You need to focus on the total cost, and watch your personal finances. Too many people are skating on thin ice for too long.

Any litigation lawyer who will not give you a half hour free initial consultation is not worth meeting. Tell them in advance you want to discuss all money matters up front at the first meeting. Most lawyer and client problems are caused by misunderstandings over money.

You should ask the lawyer you meet if he intends to actually handle your case himself. Many simply refer specialist work onto another law firm and receive part of the fee in exchange. This may not be in your best interest.