How Is Consultant or Attorney Progress Evaluated?

• Monitor progress closely. If daily contact is necessary, then demand daily feedback. Review all bills.
• Incorporate methods, techniques and solutions used by the consultant into your internal processes in order to avoid the same or similar situations in the future.
• Do not broaden the assignment without redoing most of steps 3 and 4. Remember that consultants earn money by billing time. If you ask for information, you will be charged for the time spent in researching and responding to your request.
• Designate one organization contact for all communication with the consultant. No one should go directly to the consultant; everyone should work through the designated contact.
• If there are several individuals doing tasks for the consultant, request that the consultant also appoint a "point person" to facilitate accountability for communications.
• Do not "leak" information prematurely. Have periodic update sessions conducted by the consultant and provide the sessions to all interested parties for the life of the assignment.
• Do not hesitate to advise your professional counterparts of your experience with your consultant. Open, earned praise or factual information is always valuable.

• Reassuring: You should not be made to feel that your situation is unusual, and you should be made to feel that your questions and concerns are reasonable. You should receive a timely and quick response.
• No surprises: You should be aware of any possible actions and alternatives.
• Leadership: Your attorney should function as the leader of the team.
• Honesty: In simple language, your consultant should be candid and straightforward.
• Know your business: Your attorney should make an honest effort to understand your business and industry, and therefore understand how advice may impact the business in general.
• Anticipate problems: Your consultant should anticipate your concerns and be an individual you feel you can confide in.
• Interested: Your consultant should be enthusiastic about your challenge.
• Professional: Your attorney should always demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism.
• Loyalty: You should expect the consultant's loyalty and commitment.
• Available and proactive: Your attorney should encourage communications and anticipate your need for information concerning the status of your situation.
• Attentive: You should be made to feel you are the most important client your consultant has.