SMYRNA, Ga. - TelAve -- Needing legal representation is a uniquely vulnerable experience. When your career, reputation, and future are on the line, you place immense trust in a professional, assuming their competence and commitment are absolute. However, the cautionary tale of attorney LaJuana Fells serves as a powerful public warning.

1. DO Verify Procedural Competence
The Warning Sign: In the LaJuana Fells case, the attorney filed a "Speaking Demurrer" (which illegally introduced outside facts) and a "Poison Pill" motion for a diversion program that was statutorily unavailable. These were not strategies; they were legal nullities that wasted time and money.
What to Do:
* Watch for "Busy Work": Be wary of attorneys who file complex-sounding motions that get dismissed immediately for basic procedural errors.

2. DO NOT Surrender Your Authority
The Warning Sign: The engagement agreement explicitly stated, "You will have the final say-so concerning all final decisions." Ms. Fells breached this by filing a dispositive motion without the client's knowledge or consent.

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What to Do:
* Demand Approval Rights: Make it clear during the consultation: "I want to review and approve any motion before it is filed." If the attorney bristles at this, they may be looking to control you rather than represent you.

3. DO Demand Full Transparency (Discovery)
The Warning Sign: The client described an advocate who was "syncing" with the opposition and withholding the full discovery file. Critical errors in the prosecution's case were only found after the client got the file and hired independent counsel.
What to Do:
* Watch for "Prosecutor's Mindset": If your defense attorney sounds exactly like the prosecutor—ignoring the holes in the state's case and refusing to challenge the evidence—they are not fighting for you; they are processing you.

4. DO Trust Your Gut on Empathy and Respect
The Warning Sign: When the client in the Fells case expressed distress and begged for actual advocacy, the attorney reportedly laughed at them. This cruelty was coupled with defeatist lies, such as claiming dismissal was "solely within the discretion of the State."
What to Do:
* Assess the Emotional Tone: A lawyer doesn't need to be your therapist, but they must be your champion. If they are dismissive, rude, or laugh at your concerns, fire them.

The Golden Rule of Hiring Counsel: If you feel handled, silenced, or bullied, find a professional who will fight for your future, not just their own convenience.