Finding a legal professional to take care of your private and sometimes emotional matters can be a daunting task. It seems that the moment we need an attorney the most, the less likely we are in the mood to seek one. So how should you classify the combination of recommendations and names that are presented to you when the situation presents itself and should you decide on legal representation for one reason or another?
Investigate. Investigate. Investigate. Is the attorney you are considering up to date with the state bar in which representation is required? Have you been sanctioned or reprimanded for ethical or other violations? This information is generally a public record with your state’s board of professional responsibility or on the website of your state bar association. Are you involved in a legal problem of your own that may affect or complicate your ability to represent you? Sometimes simply Googling the person will reveal more than you think.
References. Talk to previous and / or current clients of the prospective attorney to determine if they have had a good experience. Does individual return calls promptly? Is the lawyer someone they would use again? Did you feel that the attorney’s fees were commensurate with the services rendered? If applicable, was the result favorable?
Cost. What and how does the lawyer charge the fees? One of the most important considerations when deciding on legal counsel is the cost of the attorney’s services. Attorneys’ fees can be very expensive and can quickly add to long and complex legal problems. Depending on your type of legal problem, an attorney may charge a flat fee, a prepaid advance fee from which future billing is drawn, an hourly rate, or a contingency fee, which is when the attorney is paid. a percentage of what you recover from your case. With a contingency fee, if you recover nothing, the attorney does not receive a fee. Please note that even if you do not recover, you will still be responsible for costs other than attorney’s fees, such as court costs or other costs associated with your legal issue.
Expertise. Does the attorney you are considering focus its practice on the area of law you are looking for? Attorneys may advertise that they work in certain areas of the law, but they may not have worked in many cases in that specific area of the law. For example, if you are considering hiring an attorney to handle a car accident case, ask how many other car accident cases they have handled. Ask how many of those cases were decided in favor of the attorney’s client. You may know an attorney who has practiced for decades who advertises that he or she works on will and probate matters, as well as personal injury. But find out how many wills they have drawn up. Do you just dabble in that area from time to time or is it a true area of your practice? Most attorneys have a couple of areas in which they focus their practice. They may, from time to time, handle a legal matter outside of those areas. So be sure to hire someone who knows the area of the law and is up to date with the most up-to-date laws.
Appeals. If you are looking for a lawyer for any legal problem involving a court proceeding, there is always the possibility of an appeal. Ask about the likelihood of appeal on your particular matter. Ask if this attorney handles appeals as not all attorneys do. If the attorney handles appeals, ask about the different costs associated with an appeal. Ask about the timeline for an appeal. If you are looking for an attorney to handle a legal matter that could potentially come up on appeal, it is better to have that same person work the case from start to finish than to have a new attorney in the middle. This consideration up front will save you time, money, and frustration down the road.
When you choose a lawyer, you are making an investment, not only financial, but also an investment of your time. You must be well informed and use all available resources when making this important decision.