3 Things Everyone Should Do When Looking To Hire An Attorney
Lawyers come in all shapes and sizes. They handle a wide variety of problems with varying degrees of success. Whether you are searching for a qualified motorcycle accident lawyer, social security attorney, or criminal lawyer, there are some characteristics and attributes that you should look for. Here are three things you should do when looking for an attorney.
1. Seek Out Specialists
Every practicing attorney has a specialty. Just like there are murder defense attorneys that are best at defending against murder charges, there are brain injury lawyers that are best at trying civil brain injury cases.
When looking for an attorney, make sure they specialize in the type of law that your case revolves around. Then look for lawyers that are more successful at trying your specific type of case. For example, when facing criminal charges, only consider hiring criminal defense attorneys. Then start looking for someone that specializes in defending the crime you were charged with.
You may not be able to find someone in your area that deals with only your exact case type. If you encounter that problem, focus on finding someone with some or all of the following attributes instead of focusing on specialization.
2. Find Someone You Can Trust
Some lawyers don’t always have your best interests in mind. They may have larger workloads, priority cases, or personal issues that prevent them from giving your case their full attention. Remember that your attorney works for you. If at any time you feel uncomfortable with their decisions, you can overrule their authority, or even fire them from your case.
Spend some time talking to different firms. A lot of lawyers are willing to give you a free initial consultation. Take advantage of these types of offers. The more attorneys you speak with, the more likely you are to find one that you trust.
When consulting with lawyers in your area, look for attorneys that explain things clearly, have moderate to mild caseloads, and who you feel have your best interests in mind. The more you trust your attorney, the more likely your case is to succeed.
3. Compare Win/Loss Records
The most successful lawyers are the ones that win most often. There is likely to be a great amount of diversity between the win/loss records of the various attorneys and firms in your area. First, look at the attorneys that specialize in your specific case type. If that doesn’t produce results for you, expand your search to include other lawyers that practice law similar to your case.
The lawyers with the highest success rates are generally sought after the most. This puts them in high demand, and makes them more expensive than other options.
Lawyers.com says that you should evaluate what’s at stake. Don’t hire the most expensive attorney to handle a case that will have little impact on you. Similarly, you should hire a high-priced lawyer if your case has potentially serious ramifications. It is important to weigh all of your options before deciding which lawyer to choose.
If you are facing a law suit or criminal charges, you will want to hire legal representation. The particular type of representation and the quality of lawyer(s) you’ll need will depend on your unique situation. Do your best to hire a trustworthy attorney that specializes in your specific case type. Spend some time considering your alternatives, and make an educated decision. The more research you do, the better your chances are for success.
