It’s always wise to have a lawyer you can rely on. You never know when you might need legal representation, and when you do, it’s a huge weight off your shoulders to know you’ve got a professional on your side.
When you do decide it’s time to get legal representation, the next natural question is, “how do I find a good lawyer for what I need?” This isn’t always a simple question, and there are lots of different factors that go into finding the right lawyer.
The law is a wide-ranging and complex thing, so you need to find a lawyer who’s skilled in the area of the law that pertains to your current situation; that said, you also have to find representation that is going to fight for your best interests.
Getting the perfect lawyer takes time, but with the tips below, you can help make your search that little bit easier.
Remember: It’s a Relationship
Legal problems aren’t just solved in one quick meeting. They take time to develop and reach a conclusion, which means you’re going to have to work closely with your lawyer over a period of time.
If you don’t feel comfortable around your lawyer, it’s just not going to work. You’ll achieve the best results when you can work together to solve your legal issues, and the better your relationship is, the easier this will be.
There might be times when your lawyer has to ask you difficult questions that make you feel uncomfortable, but this will be much easier to deal with when you have that trusting relationship.
When you’re choosing your lawyer, they will generally offer an initial consultation where you can chat about your legal needs, and this is an excellent opportunity to decide whether you feel comfortable working with the attorney sitting in front of you.
Ask Friends and Family for Recommendations
You’ll have plenty of friends and family who have had to use a lawyer for one reason or another, so make the most of their knowledge.
Word-of-mouth recommendations are a great way to discover high-quality lawyers with a track record of excellence.
When you speak to a lawyer, he or she will naturally be trying to sell themselves, but when you speak to your friends and family, you’re going to get a completely honest appraisal. When you’re dealing with important legal issues, this is exactly what you want.
Everyone’s circumstances are different, of course. In other words, don’t make your decision based solely on the recommendation, but do use it as a place to start your search.
Find a Lawyer with the Right Specialization
There are many different areas of law, which means that to give you the best chance of getting a good outcome, you want to be working with someone who has specialized in the area of the law that pertains to your situation.
If you think you’ve been wrongfully terminated from your job, for example, you should work with an employment lawyer. If you were injured in a fall, you should work with a personal injury lawyer, and so on.
You want someone on your side who has experience with the legal issues you face, so finding a lawyer with the right specialization is a sensible and easy way of boosting your chances of success.
Different Ways of Paying
It’s extremely important that you have the right representation whenever you face legal difficulties, but that being said, the price of representation can sometimes be prohibitive.
There are lots of different ways to pay for your lawyer, though, so it’s worth researching your options. Depending on your circumstances, you might qualify for legal aid, and there will also be free legal clinics in your area where you can get some advice.
Most law firms will offer different options to make their services more affordable, so make sure you ask about fees and find the payment method that works for you.
Do Your Research
Not only is the internet a good place to research potential lawyers, but it can also help inform you about your legal situation.
The process of finding a good lawyer will be much easier if you have some idea of what to expect, so take the time to understand your situation. There are lots of free legal resources out there that can give you a better idea of what to expect and make you feel a little bit more comfortable when you go for your first consultation.
Questions to Ask
Whenever you speak to a potential lawyer, make sure you use the time to ask the right questions. Think of a list of questions you have about the process, and don’t be afraid to ask.
Here are some common questions many people ask:
- Are there other ways to solve my problem? The legal route isn’t necessarily the right route for you to take, so ask the question and find out.
- Have you handled cases similar to mine before? You want a lawyer who is experienced with cases like yours, so find out if they’ve had similar cases and what the outcomes were.
- How will you communicate with me throughout the case? Communication is key, and you want to work with someone who is going to keep you in the loop through your preferred communication channels.
- What are your legal fees? You’ve got to have some idea of how much your representation is going to cost you and how you’re going to pay.
- How long have you been in practice? Experience is important, and it’s a good idea to get a feel for how long your lawyer has been doing this line of work.
- What is your current caseload like? Your case is important to you, and it needs to be important to your lawyer, too. If they’ve got a huge caseload, you might find you struggle to get the attention you need.
- What is the likely outcome of my case? You don’t want a lawyer who guarantees you a certain result, but you do want someone who can be honest with you about the likely outcome.
