Almost everything we do is affected by laws. There are so many laws that it would take an average reading person over a thousand years to read just the law book. As if we have nothing to do with our life except reading law. So what do we do when a legal situation arises? Do we handle it ourselves or do we call an attorney who is trained in the legal field? For many people, the thought of hiring a lawyer can be intimidating. Sometimes they don’t even know if they need a lawyer or how to choose one, so they may avoid contacting a lawyer even when it is in their best interests to do so. However, do your homework before hiring an attorney for you and/or your business. Even when you are facing serious legal or medical issues, you need to make a good, informed decision about who will represent you. And finding a good lawyer isn’t as difficult or as expensive as you might think. Below are some quick tips that can take the stress out of finding a lawyer.
Can I represent myself?
You have the right to represent yourself. However, the law is extremely complex and changes frequently. Unless you spend 100% of your time educating yourself about all the laws and legal procedures related to your case, you have a good chance of losing. You can very easily overlook a legal aspect affecting your case which can sometimes lead to unexpected legal consequences which can be difficult and costly to undo. Therefore, you will need to weigh the risks and benefits of representing yourself versus hiring an attorney to represent your case.
When do I contact a lawyer?
When faced with a problem that you believe requires legal attention, you can consult a lawyer about your legal rights and responsibilities as soon as possible. Many states specifically have time limits for filing a lawsuit for personal injuries. These so-called “statutes of limitations” laws are designed to encourage people to come forward and present their case immediately. But that doesn’t mean you should just pick the first lawyer you’re in a hurry with, as you’ll learn from these tips.
How do I choose the “right” lawyer for me?
From the personal aspect, selecting a lawyer is always a personal matter. But, as is the case with any service provider, the lawyer is merely rendering his service to his client. Therefore, the lawyer-client relationship should be based on trust and open and honest communication so that the lawyer can provide his or her best service. This requires mutual commitment from both the client and the lawyer. If the client is not fully cooperating, the lawyer cannot provide his best service. At the same time, if the lawyer is not readily available and prompt in responding to your phone calls, emails and requests, you are going to get nothing but frustration. Therefore, when choosing the “right” lawyer for your case, you need to feel 100% comfortable speaking with that lawyer and feel confident in his or her abilities. If there is even a doubt, you need to keep watching. It is very important to entrust your case to someone who does not inspire your confidence.
From a professional aspect, people often assume that any lawyer can handle any case. This misguided belief often works to the detriment of the customer. No lawyer is expert in every area of law. Therefore, in order to find the “right” attorney for your case, you should not be shy about asking questions of your potential attorney until you have complete confidence in his or her abilities. Only after that you will select that lawyer. In fact, when asking questions, you will be able to observe the lawyer’s responsiveness and readiness to cooperate with you. Some of the most important questions you should ask your potential attorney as you go through the selection process are:
– How much experience do you have in this area of law (the area of your legal requirement)?
– Will you or one of your colleagues handle my case? – If a colleague handles your case, you have to interview that person.
– How many cases like mine have you handled? – Ask for specifics for each case.
– Can you provide me with some or all of the references from each case? – Make sure you call each customer to know about their experience.
A responsible and caring attorney will have no problem providing you with an answer. If the lawyer is giving you the runaround for every question and not giving you specific answers, then you need to keep watching. Also, always check with your state bar association to see if the attorney has been the subject of an ethics complaint or inquiry.
Where can I find a lawyer?
No matter where you look for a lawyer, always keep the above tip in mind to choose the right one for you. Still, here are some places to look for a lawyer:
– Yellow Pages and Ads When you open your local Yellow Pages, doesn’t it seem like doctors and lawyers cover half the book with ads? Looks like only those have the money for full blown ad pages. Speaking of advertising, unless you have marketing/sales knowledge and experience, you will never know how advertising works. Advertisements are psychologically developed to trigger your emotional senses and make you respond to the ad’s call to action. It is a science of its own. So, you as an average consumer will not be able to know which advertisement is telling the truth and which truth is blown out of proportion. But, it’s a very good place to get at least a few names and phone numbers of local attorneys and start your selection process.
– your social circle – Your family, friends, people you work with, people you talk to, people you know… start asking around. This is one of your most reliable sources. You will get an opportunity to get firsthand experience. Someone who has been in the same or similar situation can tell you about their experiences (good or bad) with their lawyer. If their experience has been nothing but good, then half your job is done. And even if no one in your community can refer you to a lawyer, they may know of someone else in their community who might be in a similar situation. Have been Some of the most reliable referrals come from people you trust – fellow business owners, friends and family – who have used attorneys recently. Word of mouth from a satisfied customer is usually very reliable.
– bar Association – This is another reliable source. Your local attorney bar association may maintain an attorney referral service, which is a list of exclusively their members who will consult with you for free or at a special rate determined by the bar association for the first conference. The bar association can also tell you whether a lawyer has been the subject of an ethics complaint or inquiry from past clients.
– Internet Internet actually. But, this is your least reliable source as everything can be put on the ‘net. However, just like classifieds, you can at least use the Internet to obtain a list of local attorneys practicing in your problem area so that you can begin the selection process. Search attorney directories on the Internet, such as Martindale.com; attorney referral services, such as LegalMatch.com; people/business search services, such as Anywho.com; And just your favorite search engine.
Disclaimer: The author and publisher of this article have tried their best to provide you useful, informative and accurate information. This article does not represent or take the place of legal advice that you would need to obtain from an attorney or other professional if the content of the article involves an issue you are facing. Laws vary from state to state and change from time to time. Always consult a qualified professional before making any decisions regarding the issues described in this article. Thank you.
