How to Choose the Right Attorney?
Even people who stay up-to-date with the existing laws and legally conduct their business are likely to experience legal problems at some point. If you experience any trouble with the law, the first person you turn to is the legal attorney. They will represent you in the court, collect the required evidence, and ensure that the jury’s decision is in your favor. You may need an attorney to resolve a family matter or a legal problem in the business transaction.
However, choosing the right attorney is the most intimidating process. With hundreds of lawyers claiming to offer the best legal services at reasonable prices, it gets pretty overwhelming for beginners to select an attorney who can handle their case professionally. Selecting a lawyer is no different from selecting any other service provider. The qualification, expertise, and area of specialization of a lawyer might differ from other professionals, but the criteria for selection are the same. If you ever get stuck in a legal case where you need an attorney to represent you in the court, consider these tips for selecting the best lawyer.
Hire a Local Attorney
Does my lawyer have to be local? This is the most common question asked by people looking for attorneys. Of course, you don’t have to settle for someone living in your town, but hiring a local attorney will offer you convenience.
Each city has some qualified, experienced, and trusted attorneys who are willing to handle your case. If you hire someone outside your town, you will have to schedule your meetings virtually. Besides, it’s difficult to submit your legal documents to the attorney’s office. You are going to need to meet the lawyer every few days to discuss the progress of your case. Besides that, local lawyers have most likely worked with the prosecutors and judges for many years. Nobody can know the ins and outs of the court and the judges better than a local attorney who has experience handling cases in the city’s court.
Do They Specialize in Defending Your Case?
You wouldn’t visit a cosmetic surgeon for heart bypass surgery. In the same way, lawyers have different specializations. A family lawyer can’t resolve a corporate matter. While interviewing the attorney, don’t forget to ask questions about their area of specialization. Ask if they have handled similar cases before and what’s their experience in defending your case. You should narrow down your options to the lawyers who specialize in legal areas where you need assistance. A lawyer specializing in your case will know the nuances associated with your matter.
Check their Experience
Has the attorney won a case similar to yours in the past? How about their experience in this field? How many cases have they worked on? A lawyer who has experience in this industry has a better chance of winning the case without any hassle. To get a better understanding of the lawyer’s experience, check their record. Visit their website to gather information about the number of cases they have handled and what the results were. An experienced attorney has the confidence to guide you through the twists and turns of the complex legal process. They help build a legal strategy that is in line with your objectives.
The company’s website will give you in-depth information about their experience level. You can Google each lawyer individually to assess their qualifications and expertise. Most legal firms mention a few references on their websites. You can call the previous clients the attorney has served. It will give you a better idea of the attorney’s experience.
Assess their Communication
An important factor to consider when hiring an attorney is their communication. Professionals know how to communicate with their superiors, juries, and associates. More importantly, they communicate with their clients regularly to keep them updated with current progress.
A good attorney is someone who answers your questions and gives you regular updates without you having to call them first. They should conduct in-person meetings and stay in touch with you through emails, calls, and social media. At times, the client has to make a difficult decision. An attorney should be able to explain the risks and benefits of your decision.
Consider their Professionalism
The difference between a good and great attorney lies in their professionalism. A professional attorney works with you to establish the best winning strategy for your case. They communicate regularly and answer your questions promptly so that you remain up-to-date with the current status of your case. They also come up with an alternative resolution method. Another sign of professionalism is the lawyer’s ability to follow all legal practices.
Check Client Reviews
Client reviews will give you an authentic picture of the professionalism and experience of different attorneys. Don’t just rely on the testimonials and reviews posted on the website. You must rather read the customer feedback on social media accounts and Yelp. Some lawyers also have a Google My Business account (if they have a land-based legal firm). You must read the reviews published by their previous customers before hiring them. The last thing you want is to be represented by an attorney with a bad track record and a social profile filled with negative reviews.
Ask Who’ll Represent You in Court
If you are working with a famous law firm, ask who will represent you in court and which attorney will work on your case. You don’t spend thousands of dollars to get represented by a novice who’s handling their first case. When interviewing the attorney, ask about who will handle your case. Check their qualifications, experience, and professionalism before sealing the deal. Interviewing the lawyers is an important criterion for selecting an attorney. It gives you a clear picture of the lawyer’s specialization and how good they are at defending criminal cases.
Discuss Fees
Once you have checked their qualification credentials, you will want to know how much the legal services cost. Before hiring, get a final quote from the attorney. The lawyers might charge based on the number of hours they’ve worked on your case, or they charge a fixed price. In addition to the fixed price, the lawyer might charge an additional fee for transport, copying, printing, postage, and so on. Most attorneys are considering alternative payment methods, i.e., charging a fee based on your case's complexity. Compare the quotes before hiring an attorney.
Hire a Detailed Oriented Lawyer
If an attorney is too busy with other cases, it means they are professional and experienced lawyers. However, it also implies that they may not pay attention to your case. No matter how small your case is, a good lawyer knows which details are important. They must remember every detail of your case and keep you updated until the case is resolved.
An attorney who lacks communication and organization skills won’t be able to defend a legal case. So, check whether your lawyer pays attention to little details. Do they show interest in your case? They should ask questions, answer your questions (no matter how insignificant they are), and handle everything with care. They must understand and note important points about your case.
Good Success Rate
Of course, it’s nearly impossible to find a lawyer who has never lost a single case. However, a successful and professional lawyer is someone with a good track record and a high success rate. Knowing that the person representing you in court has done a great job in the past will give you peace of mind. The question is, how do you know the success rate of an attorney? When you interview a lawyer, ask about their track record. As mentioned above, you will know everything about their experience from their website and the references they provide. But, the more questions you ask, the more you will know about their track record.
Trust Your Instinct
Never skip interviews. It tells you a lot about the lawyer’s personality, trustworthiness, professionalism, and experience. When you interview a lawyer, you will immediately know if you can trust them with your case. Qualifications and experience won’t make any difference if the lawyer seems uninterested. If they can’t answer your questions or mock you for asking insignificant questions, it is best to look for another lawyer. After the interview, ask yourself, "will I be able to ask questions? Do I feel comfortable sharing my views? Will it be easy to work with the lawyer?"
Bottom Line
These are a few things you must look for when hiring an attorney. With the competition in this field getting fiercer every day, it has become harder for people to find an attorney who can understand and handle their cases effectively. Do not make the decision based on fees alone. You must compare cost, but consider other factors too. It’s better to pay a few thousand bucks extra to a professional attorney than lose a million-dollar case. You can check Handel on the Law Directory to find the right attorneys.
Author: Shawn Nejad graduated from UCLA with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Shawn started Search Engine Projects (SEP) in 2004. Shawn is a true believer in the "Givers Gain" philosophy by attracting, engaging, and delighting clients to grow their business that provides value and builds trust. @shawnnejad
