When you find yourself faced with a legal issue, the steps you take next can literally impact the others you could have. Hiring a legal professional – and doing it the right way – is one of the main decisions you’ll make.
Not sure how to hire an legal professional for your case? You’re in the right place! Continue reading for ten must-know tips that will make hiring an legal professional easy.
1. Ask for Recommendations
One of the best ways to find a local attorney legal professional is to ask people you trust for recommendations. Start with family and friends – ask if they’ve had a positive personal experience with an legal professional in the region of specialty you’re looking for.
If you have a relationship with an legal professional who works in some other specialty, she or he may also be able to give you a recommendation. For example, your business legal professional probably can’t help with a personal injury case, but he may have the ability to refer someone to a great personal injury lawyer.
Use these tips to create a short three to five attorneys who you’ll investigate further before deciding.
2. Do Online Research
Next, it’s time to hop online and begin doing some research about each of the attorneys on your list. Check Google reviews with least several the legal professional review sites – like Lawyers.com and Justia.
It’s also a good idea to take a look through the lawyer’s website and their social media – like the reviews section. Do not forget that you can’t please everyone, so don’t put too much weight into a couple of bad reviews, but if you commence to notice a pattern, consider crossing that legal professional off your list.
3. Schedule a Consultation
Once your research is done, narrow down your list to the most notable three, then call to schedule consultations. Most attorneys will talk with you for at least a quick consultation without charging you.
Pay attention to whether the person who answers the phone is polite and accommodating. Once you reach the office, notice whether the location is convenient and whether you feel comfortable in the room.
4. Ask the Right Questions
When you sit down with the lawyer, it’s smart to have a questions prepared. This may make certain you make good use of the time you have and that you don’t forget anything important.
Some of the questions you’ll want to ask include:
Do you specialize in cases like mine?
How long have you been practicing?
Do you feel that I have a strong case?
How much do you think my case is worth?
How often do you take cases to court vs. setting?
Who will be handling my case?
How and when will I need to pay?
Look for an legal professional who is honest and upfront when answering your questions. Don’t hesitate to use notes, as you’ll want to compare the interviews with each of your top three options and remembering who said what could turn into a challenge.
5. Assess fees and Costs
You never want to hire an legal professional based on cost alone, but, of course, price does matter. Ask the legal professional to thoroughly make clear their fees, and, when possible, to supply you with a written summary. Don’t feel like you’re “being cheap,” you deserve to really know what you’re spending money on and exactly how much it’s going to cost you.
6. Review the Payment Arrangements
There are different ways that your legal professional might bill you. Options include:
Contingency cost – the legal professional receives a percentage of what you’re awarded if you win your case.
Flat cost – a set dollar amount for services. That is common for simple such things as writing a will or filing a non-contested divorce.
Hourly rate – this is a set cost per hour. The next cost will rely upon the number of hours worked.
Retainer – this is a cost you pay upfront. Lawyers often utilize this to pay expenses and fees associated with trying your case.
It’s important to understand how your legal professional bills which means you know when and exactly how much you can expect to pay. If you don’t ask these questions, you could wrap up with an unpleasant surprise.
7. Listen to Your Gut
Once you’ve reviewed all this information and met with each potential attorney, it’s time to judge your experience with each and make a final decision. You’ll use logic for almost all of this evaluation, but it’s also important to hear your gut. If you have a really great feeling about one legal professional that you met with – if you feel like you trust and have confidence in him or her – then this is a superb indication that you’ve made a good choice.
The same goes for a negative feeling. Even though you can’ quite put your finger onto it, if there’s something that just doesn’t seem to be quite to you, then go forward. There are thousands of legal representatives out there, therefore it is practical to keep looking until you find one that’s a good fit for you.
Hiring an Attorney is a crucial Decision
Follow these techniques for hiring an legal professional and you’ll hold the satisfaction that comes with knowing you’ve made an outstanding choice. If you need even more information, take a few minutes to scroll through some of our other helpful blogs!