Choosing the right lawyer for you can be difficult and there are probably a lot of questions running through your mind. Hopefully, this blog will help put your mind at ease when making a decision on a lawyer.
One thing to keep in mind when choosing a lawyer is how comfortable you feel around them. You’ll have to disclose a lot of personal information to your lawyer and if you don’t feel comfortable doing that you may need to look for a different lawyer. You want to pick someone you can get along with and enjoy working with.
Another thing to consider is the lawyer’s area of expertise and prior experience. You want to have a lawyer who is an expert in the specific field you need. You may want to ask them about the types of cases they typically handle, that way you’ll have a good idea if they will be the right fit for your case. Some other factors to keep in mind are location, fees charged, and the length of time your case may take.
One of the best ways to find a reliable lawyer is a recommendation from a trusted friend, relative, or business associate. But you have to keep in mind each case is different and just because they were right for someone else’s case doesn’t mean they are right for your case. You can also search online for lawyers. You can contact the local bar association for qualified lawyers in your area. There are also websites you can go to to find the right lawyer for you.
Link for online resources:
- https://www.avvo.com
- https://www.martindale.com/?_ga=2.57163054.569878515.1626364430-534911461.1626364430
- https://www.legalzoom.com
After asking family and friends for recommendations and reviewing online websites, you can start to make a list of potential candidates. This will help keep you organized with which lawyers you are considering. Then research/review each attorney on the list to help narrow it down even more.
Here is an example of how you could review potential lawyers:
- Name:
- Office:
- Area of expertise:
- Fees/cost:
- Location:
- Availability:
- Success rate:
- Does it feel like a fit?:
If you cannot find the all answers to these questions through online research, you can call the law office or wait till a consultation.
The next step is to set up consultations with the lawyers on the list you’ve made. Most lawyers do consultation appointments for free but some may charge a small fee. Make sure to ask prior to the consultation.
Before your consultation make sure to have a list of questions prepared. A few examples of what to ask can be pricing, success rate, availability, and more. Make sure to ask the questions you want to during this meeting. Treat this consultation as an interview for the lawyer. You are the one who will be hiring them, if it doesn’t feel right go with a different option.
Example questions for your lawyer:
- How long have you been in practice?
- How much experience do you have in cases like mine, and more importantly, what were the outcomes of those cases?
- What are your fees? What services are included? How do you expect to be paid (lump sum, installments, etc.)? Are your fees or fee structure negotiable?
- What is your caseload currently like? Do you have the time to commit to my case?
Hopefully, this helps you feel more secure and confident when choosing a lawyer!