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You can take some simple steps to make sure your lawyer doesn’t waste time on your projects. Every lawyer has wasted time on something, and even a great lawyer such as Abraham Lincoln acknowledged that some legal tasks are inherently a waste of time and money. Back in 1850 he wrote, “Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser—in fees, expenses, and waste of time. As a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough.”