Are you facing a legal problem and don’t know where to turn next? If you’re not careful, your next step can negatively impact your life.
But luckily for you, we’ve taken the time to fill you in on why hiring a legal professional is going to be the next best thing for you to do. Finding an attorney (or solicitor in the UK) isn’t only the next best thing for you to do; it’s about finding someone that has the qualifications to fight for what you deserve in your case.
Keep reading for some tips that will ensure you hire the right legal attorney the first time.
Ask Around
If you spend time calling each lawyer’s office in your area, you might find yourself speaking to a lot of answering machines or waiting for law offices to call you back. This can take a lot of time and means waiting around, which may not be something you’re able to do.
Therefore, you should first ask people you’re close to for their recommendations regarding hiring legal representation. This is the best route to start with because you get insider information on what it’s like working with the lawyer and the specific type of law they practice regularly.
If you know someone who works as an attorney but doesn’t practice the type of law you need, they can recommend someone else to help you in your situation. If this does end up being the case, you need to mention that you were referred to the legal practice by way of another lawyer. This could mean you get to sit down and discuss the potential of the lawyer representing you when it’s time to go to court. Once you’ve asked everyone you know for a recommendation, the next step is to compile them into a list.
This list is what you’ll use to continue doing the research before you determine the lawyer that you want to work with moving forward in your case.
Create a List of Questions
You’ll need to schedule a time to sit down and discuss the lawyer representing your case. All local car accident attorneys will require a consultation, and during this time, you should ask all the questions you have about the services they offer. This is your time to determine if they’re the right fit for your job and if they are someone you want to work with. One of the first questions you should ask is how many cases similar to yours has the attorney represented?
If you’re the first case they’ve represented, it might make you worried that they don’t have the experience needed to get the outcome you’re looking for it. You might also want to ask if the attorney feels you have a strong case and how likely you’ll get the outcome you desire.
You can ask several other questions, but these are just a few that you’ll want to list. It’s crucial that you leave your initial consultation feeling confident about your interaction and the future of your case.
If you leave and find yourself with more questions than you had going in, that is a sign that the attorney isn’t the one you need to hire to represent you.
Schedule Your Consultations
You need to schedule an appointment with each lawyer on the list you created from the recommendations from your close friends and family members. The sooner you’re able to sit down with each lawyer, the quicker you can begin working on your case and preparing for court.
You don’t need to consult with many legal firms; we recommend scheduling an appointment with at least three firms. Before you meet with them, ask about any fees associated with the initial consultation.
Some will discuss your case with you free of charge, but others will require you to pay a small fee for their legal advice. Remember, this consultation doesn’t bind you to work with them, but it could be the beginning of a working relationship between you and the attorney. When you’re scheduling your appointment, don’t overlook how the person setting the appointment is speaking to you. If they aren’t kind and deliver optimal customer service, that could be something that carries throughout the firm.
After scheduling your appointment on the day, it’s time to meet to assess whether you feel comfortable when you arrive at the office and whether you’re treated properly when you arrive.
Review Payment Plans
After the lawyer accepts your case and you determine you’re going to work with them, the next step is to discuss payment. You don’t want to be caught off guard when you’re provided the invoice and have to make a payment.
There are several payment terms to ask about before you sign a contract with the people you’re going to work with. First, ask what percentage of your winnings in court, the lawyer is going to receive if you are awarded monetary rewards.
This is known as a contingency fee, and it’s not something you want to be surprised by because they could end up taking more than you’d anticipated. Another term you’re not going to want to miss out on understanding is a flat fee. This is a fixed dollar amount, and you’ll pay it for the services provided when the lawyer is working on your case. The most crucial payment term to not overlook is going to be a retainer.
This is something you’ve got to pay before the lawyer begins providing services. The retainer is often used towards covering various expenses for your case, which can reduce the amount you end up paying.
Your Case, Your Lawyer: Steps to Finding the One You Need
Before you hire a lawyer, there are several things you need to do to locate one that will work for your benefit. Ask people you know and trust for recommendations. Once you receive these recommendations, don’t forget to schedule a consultation to discuss your case in more detail.
Your case is about to be underway, which means the more you know, the better prepared you’re going to be for your case.
