What Does My Attorney Actually Do?

Before your attorney can take a position, they need to know what the law says. This means reading statutes, case law, regulations, and administrative rulings.

• Oklahoma statutes and the Oklahoma Administrative Code
• Federal statutes (if your case involves federal claims)
• Published appellate decisions from Oklahoma courts, the Tenth Circuit, and sometimes other circuits
• Law review articles, treatises, and practice guides

Research is not a one-time event. It happens continuously as the case evolves and new issues arise.

Every document filed with the court — the complaint, the answer, motions, briefs, discovery requests — is drafted by your attorney. These documents must cite specific legal authority, address counterarguments, and comply with court formatting rules and page limits.

Discovery is the exchange of information between the parties. For your attorney, this means:

• Propounding discovery — drafting interrogatories, requests for production, and requests for admission
• Responding to discovery — reviewing requests, gathering documents, and lodging objections
• Document review — reading hundreds to tens of thousands of pages of the other side's production
• Meeting strict court-imposed deadlines to avoid sanctions

Before any deposition or trial testimony, your attorney prepares each witness. This includes reviewing the witness's likely testimony, anticipating cross-examination questions, and conducting a prep session to walk through the process.

Most cases settle before trial. But settlement doesn't happen by accident — it requires extensive work:

• Evaluating the case's strengths and weaknesses
• Calculating damages and potential outcomes
• Drafting demand letters and settlement proposals
• Negotiating with opposing counsel
• Preparing for and attending mediation
• Drafting the settlement agreement once terms are reached

For every email you receive from your attorney, there are often several more exchanged with the other side or the court that you never see. Your attorney communicates regularly with:

• Opposing counsel — on discovery, scheduling, settlement, and procedural issues
• The court — on motions, scheduling orders, and case management
• Expert witnesses — on reports, opinions, and trial preparation
• You — on case strategy, updates, and decision points

Your attorney is constantly evaluating and adjusting strategy based on new information. A deposition may reveal a new theory. A document production may expose a weakness. A court ruling may change the value of the case. Good attorneys are thinking about your case even when they are not billing for it.