Remember that you should be the one seeking out a lawyer, not the other way around. Most of the time, these lawyers are scams; therefore, you need to avoid them, especially if your case involves a hefty sum of money. Do your due diligence and hire the best lawyer on your terms.
Define your case before seeing a lawyer. First, determine whether you really need an attorney. If you have a lawsuit already on the books, need to get a divorce or have been accused of something criminal, you will need legal representation. You could also need a lawyer to give you advice about a financial matter.
Never pick the first lawyer you find in the phone book. It is critically important to check out your choices to make certain you are getting the best. The lawyer I hired, who was recommended by my personal real estate broker when I bough my first house, got her license revoked for malpractice! Therefore, you need to be careful!
Make sure your lawyer and you are on the same page when it comes to scheduling meetings. Keep in touch. Many lawyers get hired and won’t communicate with their clients for long periods of time. Make sure you establish a schedule soon so that you can prevent these sorts of problems.
Find out if the lawyer is experienced with your case type. Just because a lawyer lists that he specializes in cases like yours does not mean that he is able to win your case. If your lawyer is not willing to provide you with information on their past cases, then you should think about hiring a different lawyer for your situation.
Maintain a written record of all lawyer interactions you have. Take note of dates, times, subjects of discussion and any mentions of billing issues. This can help with understanding issues later, such as high fees.
Don’t give your lawyer lots of money up front to accept your case.` If a retainer is required, you must require a refund guarantee for monies that are not used. Additionally, it may pay to shop around and find a lawyer who doesn’t want such a big retainer.
Keep your financial situation in mind. Can you afford to go forward with your case? Look into the fee structures of each lawyer you contemplate hiring. You should also talk to potential lawyers face to face about how much you can afford and what you want to accomplish. You should also make sure you know if they charge higher fees for bigger wins.
Trust is an extremely important part of the lawyer-client relationship. This is especially true if you are finding a lawyer for your business or professional matters. Commercial legal matters require a high amount of trust, since it is common practice to hand over a blank check to your lawyer. If you sign a blank check, you are putting your finances in your attorney’s hands. Make sure you protect yourself!
It can take time to find the appropriate lawyer. However, it is time well spent. This article gave you the advice you need, so make use of it today.