There is a great possibility that at one point or another throughout someone’s life, the services of an attorney will need to be rendered. Even if a person doesn’t find him or herself in criminal trouble, an attorney can be of great assistance in many other situations. Some of the most common reasons that the services of an experienced attorney are needed include:
– Personal injury
– Divorce cases
– Custody cases
– Adoption cases
– Civil lawsuits
As someone who has been in and out of the court system for quite some time, I have found that choosing the right attorney is crucial in getting the outcome that you want. Let’s take a close look at the things you need to look for when hiring your next attorney.
1) Doing the Work Him or Herself
If you find yourself working with an attorney who often passes you off to his or her assistant or a lower-level lawyer, you may want to consider firing this one and finding another. You want to make sure that you acquire services from an attorney who will take your case seriously.
2) Is there Face-to-Face Communication?
If at all possible, your attorney should ask for face-to-face communication with you. Sometimes, say if you are in jail, face-to-face may not be an option.
3) Look for Trust
You need to feel comfortable with the lawyer that you have. If you don’t, you are in for a long, uncomfortable ride while your case gets settled. Also, if you don’t trust your attorney, there is a small chance that you will tell him or her all the details relating to your case, which can negatively affect the outcome.
4) Does the Lawyer Specialize in a Certain Area of Law?
If you are wanting a lawyer to handle a divorce case, you of course won’t want to turn to the services of a bankruptcy lawyer. Instead, you will need someone who has expertise knowledge in divorce law. Keeping this in mind, when you hire an attorney, make sure he or she has experience working cases that are similar to yours.
5) Has the Attorney Went to Trial?
There is always the possibility that your case could go to trial. Because of this, you need a lawyer on your side who has trial experience.
6) Look for a Good Reputation
If an attorney doesn’t have a good reputation, chances are it is for a good reason. As you begin searching for a lawyer, start with friends, family members and co-workers, asking them about any suggestions that they have. Also, ask them about any lawyers that they think you should stay away from.
7) What are the Fees Like?
If the fees are incredibly low, this may be a good sign that you will get what you pay for. This is not to say that you have to hire an extremely expensive lawyer to get what you want, but many times, low fees mean low-quality services. Keep that in mind when looking for a lawyer.