Hiring a lawyer can be one of the most important decisions you'll ever make, so make sure you take the time to find the right one. Whether you need an attorney to help you finalize the sell of your home, a family law specialist to finalize your divorce, or an immigration lawyer to make sure you don't get deported, getting the right person is key.
That search however, can be tedious and tricky, and is often fraught with difficulty. Feeling completely confident that you've found the right person is often the hardest part of all, which is why we've compiled a list to ascertain that you actually have...
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1. You've shopped around, and come up with the best. Don't just hire the first person who comes along. Make a list of lawyers you think would be suitable, then prepare a list of questions to ask. After each interview, compare the answers. When someone seems right, set up a face-to-face meeting (sometimes the fee for initial meetings is waived, sometimes not). Write down what they say and compare answers once more.
2. Your lawyer comes with the right recommendations and/or client references. It's important not to underestimate the importance of word-of-mouth when it comes to hiring the right person. Ask friends or neighbors who have hired lawyers for similar reasons in the past if they can recommend someone. Certified lawyer referral agencies can also recommend a lawyer to you if you need it, or put you in touch with an agency that can.
3. They enjoy a good reputation in the community, and have earned the respect of both clients and colleagues. You might even ask someone in the community to recommend someone specifically suited to your problems or needs. If you are suffering sexual harassment at the workplace, for example, it might be a good idea to contact a local women's group to ask for recommendations.
4. They have the right specialty, or area of expertise. You may not need a lawyer who has a specific specialist, but then again, you might. Lawyers can specialize in different areas, and they can become State Bar-certified specialists, in some cases. They include, among others: criminal law, family law, immigration law and bankruptcy law. Also, make sure they have the right focus of practice within their chose field. Immigration lawyers, for example, enjoy many sub-specialties, such as family, employment and deportation.
5. The fees seem to match what you can afford. It's not good getting a fantastic lawyer, only to discover after your first meeting that he or she charges $400 per hour more than you can reasonably expect to pay. Remember that you will also have to pay the costs of the case as well as the lawyer's fee, even if you lose, so it's imperative that you know a good estimate of what those fees will be in advance. Will you have to pay for phone conversations, photocopying, extra research? Will there be a payment plan, or a retainer fee? Be upfront with your lawyer in the very beginning about providing a written estimate, and let them know you'll expect an update if the costs change for any reason.
6. Your chosen lawyer has the experience needed to handle your case. Don't be taken in by first impressions only, although they are definitely important. Ask your potential lawyer if he or she has handled similar cases before, how many, and what the outcomes were. You will need someone who can openly discuss their background dealing in similar cases, and who is willing to disclose the outcomes to you.
7. They have passed all necessary checks. You can always look on the State Bar's web page to see if the lawyer you are considering hiring has ever been publicly disciplined by the Bar, or if they have ever been the subject of any ethical or disciplinary action. If so, ask them to explain - if you are uncomfortable doing this, you're far better off using someone else. Erring on the side of caution is always best in this type of scenario.
8. They're not too overworked - and do most of their work themselves. You don't want to hire a lawyer who is too busy to take on another case, nor do you want someone who has a bevy of paralegals doing most of the work for them. A rule of thumb is that one or two paralegals per attorney is a good number, meaning that they actually have enough time to talk with you about your case - and know personally what is going on. Ask if they will handle everything themselves, especially if the case goes to litigation.
9. They have good communication skills, and will keep you reasonably well informed at all times. The last thing you want is a lawyer who just repeatedly assures you that everything is progressing smoothly without supplying cold, hard facts. Ask how you will be let into the loop - through regular emails, phone calls or faxes, or perhaps through a sit-down meeting every other Tuesday (which you'll be paying for!). You may want to insist upon a regular timetable for updates - then again, you may not.
10. The chemistry is right. When all is said and done, your gut feeling is perhaps more important than anything else. Even if someone seems perfect on paper, if the two of you don't get along and you feel uncomfortable asking questions, obviously this isn't the right lawyer for you.
A good lawyer is hard to find and, in most cases, a hard lawyer is good to find. Ensure you get the best by taking the time to find the right person, one who ticks all the boxes and has the right qualifications, as well as the right personality.
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