Resources Page

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Now that we have was taken the first step towards investigating your case, I have provided some information below to help in our collaborative efforts to obtain all the necessary information to make a decision about the best way to proceed.
Please note only certain sections of this Resources page may be relevant to you. Please review any and all material which you believe to be relevant and follow up with any questions you may have. If you have already received information which seems contradict with anything below, please feel free to ask us to avoid any confusion. Certain cases, such as Care and Protection matters, Evictions or Appeals have a different procedural structure and therefore may not correspond with certain information provided on this page.Feel free to email us with any questions.
# Documents The first step is to digitize and provide any and all documentation which may be helpful or even remotely connected to the case at hand.

Most people do not end up having a scanner in their home, but do in fact have a smart phone. In light of this we recommend the following apps to scan and digitize any documents that you may provide:

  • iOS and Android: [ScanBot](https://scanbot.io/en/index.html) - Download for iOS [here](https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id834854351?pt=654895&ct=Website&mt=8); Download for Android [here](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.doo.snap);
  • For Assistance on how to get started with Scanbot - if necessary - please watch the video below or [click here](https://support.scanbot.io/hc/en-us/articles/201939137-Scanning-Guide-or-How-do-I-scan-with-Scanbot-).
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1qHrqpO5uY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1qHrqpO5uY)
A note on the decision to provide documents: the more information that I have the better. If you see a document and think to yourself "I am not sure if I should provide this,” it is better to provide it and let me make a decision about whether or not it is useful then it is to mention it later down the line. The only documents you should not provide are items which you cannot reasonably connect in any fashion to the issue we are investigating.
## Transferring Files We also recommend that you do not send each document individually via email to us when attempting to share. Please utilize free online cloud storage from [Google Drive](https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2494822?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en), [DropBox](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0ahUKEwj-isL4rerRAhVs8IMKHdMpDEMQFggcMAE&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fen%2Fhelp%2F19&usg=AFQjCNH9rPR1ooU3gz3dFRZvNn30S4YhmA&sig2=6vama_lBQxxCD2QBPnYVZA&bvm=bv.145822982,d.amc) or [Box.com](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0ahUKEwiu6aTwrerRAhVq1oMKHUELD9YQFggfMAE&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcommunity.box.com%2Ft5%2FFor-Admins%2FHow-Do-I-Share-Files-And-Folders-From-The-Admin-Console%2Fta-p%2F211&usg=AFQjCNFqXrLNMA40eWXGJU7yRY1IM3rsNQ&sig2=FCzc9oHiS5QknIodMoV5iA) to securely share a folder of documents to help with organization and efficient information transfer.

We highly recommend utilizing Google Drive, as we utilize this system regularly for client document review and comment as necessary during the duration of many of our cases.

Any documents, emails or other files that you provide to the firm in the form of electronic documentation should be saved as a [PDF file](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=7&ved=0ahUKEwjI7PikrerRAhVGyyYKHZt3CC0QFgg8MAY&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FPortable_Document_Format&usg=AFQjCNGXWM1YT5WcY-AaYUl9bnSjtZEr0g&sig2=LDB98PKXjCzKaBHD58bEwA). These files are universal and can be opened on any computing format, which is important for their usage and possible transmission during discovery or for printing for litigation purposes.
## Documents You May Not Have You may also find yourself in a position where you do not have certain necessary documents. This is the time when you should make a request to anybody, *other than the opposing party*, for any documents that we may need. Any documents that we may need from the opposing party can and will be obtained via document requests in discovery.

If it is necessary to obtain medical records for your case it will be imperative that you provide a list of medical providers whom you have seen in relation to the incident or incidents that led you to originally contact me.

This should be done electronically and not more than ten (10) business days after you have provided your initial intake information. Once a list of current medical providers has been received I will be able to request the medical records which will be relevant to your case.

# Authorizations In certain situations, we may need authorization from you to obtain your data for your case. To help facilitate this please make sure, depending on the specific facts of your case, that we have each of the following, as necessary:
  • [Authorization to Release Protected Health Information Form](https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8ekhxQKvh6PaWhWeG9ZVHFGX3M);
  • [Authorization for Employment Information](https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8ekhxQKvh6PNmJ1T3hxaS1sRkE/view?usp=sharing), or an
  • [Authorization to Obtain Protected Criminal Information](http://www.mass.gov/eopss/docs/chsb/attorney-request-form.pdf).
If for any reason you believe we do not have any of the above-mentioned forms, and based on your case it appears we should, click the form to download a blank PDF copy.

Using a computer or a smartphone, please fill out all of the information on the forms as it pertains to you and sign where necessary.

For instructions on using a Mac to sign a PDF document, click here;  for Windows computer, click here. 

If you are using a smartphone, we recommend the following apps to annotate and sign documents that you may provide:

  • iOS - Step 1: [How to Download a PDF from the Internet](http://www.idownloadblog.com/2013/05/23/how-to-save-pdfs-to-ibooks/); Step 2: [Using Markup to sign a PDF in Notes and Mail](http://appletoolbox.com/2016/10/ios-10-practical-tips-on-using-pdf-and-notes-in-e-mail/). 
  • Android - [Adobe Reader for Android (Free)](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.adobe.reader) (Further Instructions for using Adobe on Android are available [here](http://www.droid-life.com/2015/01/13/sign-pdf-android-without-printing/))
# Emails Emails will almost always come into play in a case and it is imperative that you save and provide them as quickly as possible. The best way to save your emails can depend on your preferred method of accessing your account. Here are some helpful links which lay out different mechanisms for saving emails:
  • [Lifehacker Article](http://lifehacker.com/5990556/how-can-i-save-all-my-work-emails-for-a-personal-backup): How Can I Save All My Emails for a Personal Backup?;
  • [How to save Gmail Messages as PDFs in Google Drive](https://www.labnol.org/internet/save-gmail-in-google-docs/21045/);
  • [Printing Gmails to PDF format.](http://blog.timesunion.com/tech/2359/how-to-quickly-convert-gmail-email-into-pdf/)
# Text Messages (or iMessages) As important as email messages are, Text Messages (or iMessages for iPhones) are nearly as important in most of, if not nearly all of, cases headed to litigation. Please provide all relevant Text or iMessages, utilizing the links below to help assist you in obtaining and transmitting the messages via the secure cloud service as mentioned above:
  • [Wired: How to save your Text Messages](https://www.wired.com/2013/11/backup-sms-iphone/);
  • [Popular Science: How to save your Text Messages](http://www.popsci.com/how-to-save-your-text-messages);
  • [How to Backup Text Messages with an Android Phone and a Gmail Account](https://www.howtogeek.com/112852/how-to-backup-your-text-messages-to-your-gmail-account/);
  • [How to save iMessages and Text Messages on your iPhone using iExplorer](https://macroplant.com/iexplorer/tutorials/how-to-transfer-and-backup-sms-and-imessages);
# Narrative Almost as important as the story that the documents will tell, will be your narrative of events.

If you have already provided a narrative, thank you, this is something that we will both use extensively throughout your case. If you have not provided a narrative please take the next seven (7) days, while gathering the documents mentioned above, to draft an email (or other written correspondence) laying out each and every reasonably related event to the issue that brought you to contact my office originally.

In the same line of reasoning as I have mentioned above, if you think to yourself"I am not sure if I should provide this,” it is better to provide it and let me make a decision about whether or not it is useful then it is to mention it later down the line.

# Fee Agreements Each and every attorney-client relationship is [mandated](http://www.mass.gov/courts/case-legal-res/rules-of-court/sjc/sjc307-rule1-5.html) to be memorialized via a written fee agreement. This make sure that each side clearly understand the duties of the other and that there will be no miscommunication or confusion surrounding the role of the parties.

There are multiple types of fee agreements which are available, although not all are available in each type of case.

  • Hourly Fee Agreements are used when an attorney is to be paid specifically for their time as they work on a case.
  • A Contingent Fee Agreement is used when an attorney agrees to receive as compensation part of the reward that that attorney's client receives as a result of either a trial or successful negotiation for settlement.
  • A Flat Rate Fee Agreement is utilized when an attorney agrees to take a specific amount for work to be done on a case.
You should also be aware that this firm offers discounts for certain groups. More information about our discount structure can be found in our billing practices webpage [here](http://www.tay-law.com/billing-practices/).
# Initial Meeting *You should also be prepared to schedule an initial meeting once all of the above mentioned digitalization of documents, narrative and fee agreement signing have taken place*. It will be important to set aside about two hours for this initial meeting where after we have been able to investigate and review the claim, we can sit down and have a candid conversation about next steps and the timeline for your specific case.

Once you have been able to complete the steps mentioned above, please forward to my office three separate dates that you will be available for an initial meeting two weeks after you have supplied the above-mentioned items.

Tele/Video Conferencing

Many of our meetings will be conducted via teleconference on the platform known as "ZOOM”. Prior to the meeting, please visit Zoom's website here and download the necessary software onto your computer or mobile device.

# Further Communications Email is normally our go to platform for communication, but during a long case with hundreds of emails and different chains, email can become a bit chaotic and confusing. This is especially true when if we have to look for documents that were passed along or if we have provided certain tasks which require completion by a specific time. In light of this, as we cement our Attorney/Client relationship, the firm has begun offering to clients the use of a widely popular and available app known as Slack on their mobile devices or Desktop Computers to help reduce the turmoil so many people experience with email as litigation continues onward. 

Slack allows us to organize our case into a communication channel which helps streamline our ability to share communications, to-dos, documentation and appointments. Here's quick two (2) minute video primer which provides a great overview about Slack:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RJZMSsH7-g

## Setting Up Slack In order to set up Slack, please visit [here](https://slack.com/downloads.) to download the appropriate version of the app. 

Once you have completed the sign in process, let us know and we will send out a customer invite to join the firm's channel.

# Stages of a Lawsuit Here is some further information on the stages of a lawsuit:
# Attorney-Client Privilege In light of questions we often receive about Attorney-Client Privilege, here is some information on how Attorney-Client Privilege works:
## Feedback We are also always looking for helpful, constructive feedback about any of our practices. To provide feedback please feel free to [click here.](https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9LYC3CP)
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