Almost everything we do is affected by the law. There are so many laws that it would take a person with an average reading ability over a thousand years to read the law book. As if we had nothing more to do with our lives than reading laws. So what do we do when a legal situation arises? Do we handle it ourselves or do we call in an attorney trained in the legal field? For many people, the idea of calling an attorney can be scary. Sometimes they may not even know if they need a lawyer or how to choose one, so they can avoid contacting a lawyer even when it is in their best interest. However, do your homework before hiring an attorney for yourself and / or your business. When you are faced with serious legal or medical problems, you still need to make a good and informed decision about who will represent you. And it doesn’t have to be as difficult or expensive as you might think to find a good attorney. Here are some quick tips that can ease the stress of finding an attorney.
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 on all the laws and legal procedures relevant to your case, you have a high chance of losing. It is very easy for you to overlook a legal issue that affects your case and that can sometimes have unforeseen legal consequences that can be difficult and costly to undo. Therefore, you must weigh the risks and benefits of representing yourself vs. hire an attorney to represent your case.
When do I contact an attorney?
When faced with a problem that you think needs legal attention, you may want to consult with an attorney about your legal rights and responsibilities as soon as possible. Many states have deadlines for filing lawsuits, especially for personal injury. These “statute of limitations” laws are designed to encourage people to come forward and present their case promptly. But this does not mean that you simply have to choose the first attorney you meet because you are in a hurry, as you will learn from these tips.
How do I choose the “right” lawyer for me?
From a personal point of view, the selection of an attorney is always a personal matter. But, as with any service provider, the attorney is only providing his service to his client. Therefore, the attorney-client relationship must be based on trust and open and honest communication so that the attorney can provide the best of his or her service. It requires a mutual commitment from both the client and the attorney. If the client does not cooperate fully, the attorney may not be able to provide the best of his or her services. At the same time, if the attorney is not easily accessible and does not respond quickly to your phone calls, emails, and requests, you will get nothing but frustration. Therefore, when choosing the “right” attorney for your case, you should feel 100% comfortable speaking with that attorney and have confidence in their abilities. If there is a single doubt, you should keep looking. Your case is too important to entrust to someone who does not inspire your confidence.
From a professional point of view, people often believe that any lawyer can handle any case. This misleading trust often hurts the customer. No attorney is trained in all areas of law. Therefore, to find the “right” attorney for your case, you should not be shy about asking questions of your prospective attorney until you gain full confidence in his or her ability. Only then would he select that lawyer. In fact, by asking the questions, you will be able to observe the attorney’s responsiveness and willingness to cooperate with you. Some of the most important questions to ask your prospective attorney during the selection process are:
– What experience do you have in this area of law (the area of your legal need)?
– Will you or one of your associates handle my case? – If an associate handles your case, that is the person you should interview.
– How many cases like mine have you handled? – Ask for details for each of the cases.
– Could you provide me with references to some or each of the cases? – be sure to call each customer to find out about their experience.
A responsible and caring attorney would have no problem giving you answers. If the attorney is mulling over each question and not providing you with specific answers, you should keep looking. Also, always check with your state Bar Association if that attorney has been the subject of an ethical complaint or investigation.
Where do I find a lawyer?
No matter where you look for an attorney, always keep the advice above in mind when choosing the right attorney for you. However, here are some places to look for an attorney:
– Yellow pages and advertisements When you open your local yellow pages, doesn’t it seem like doctors and lawyers cover half the book with advertisements? It almost seems that they are the only ones who have money for full-blown ad pages. Speaking of ads, unless you have marketing / sales experience and knowledge, you will never know how ads work. Ads are developed to psychologically activate your emotional senses and make you respond to the ad’s call to action. It is a science of its own. So you, as the average consumer, would have no idea which ad is telling the truth and which has the truth out of proportion. But, this is a very good place to at least get some names and phone numbers of local attorneys and begin your selection process.
– Your society circle – Your family, friends, people you work with, people you talk to, people you know … start asking. This is one of your most reliable sources. You will have the opportunity to live the experience first hand. Someone who has been in the same or similar situation could tell you about their experience (good or bad) with their lawyer. If their experience has been nothing but good, you have half of your work done. And even if no one in your social circle could refer you to a lawyer, they may know someone else in your social circle who might have been in a similar situation. Some of the most trusted referrals come from people you trust (business colleagues, friends, and family) who have recently turned to attorneys. Word of mouth from a satisfied customer is generally very reliable.
– Bar associations – This is another reliable source. Your local bar association may maintain a lawyer referral service, which is a list of its members by specialty who will consult with you free of charge or at a special rate set by the bar association for the first conference. The Bar Association may also inform you if a lawyer has been the subject of an ethical complaint or an investigation from previous clients.
– The Internet – Indeed, the Internet. But, this is your least reliable source because everything could be put on the net. However, as with advertisements, you can use the Internet to at least get a list of local attorneys who practice in your problem area so that you can begin the selection process. On the Internet, look for lawyer directories, such as Martindale.com; lawyer referral services, such as LegalMatch.com; person / business search services, such as Anywho.com; and simply your favorite search engine.
Disclaimer: The author and publisher of this article have made every effort to provide you with useful, informative, and accurate information. This article does not represent or replace the legal advice you need to obtain from an attorney or other professional if the content of the article involves a problem you are facing. Laws vary from state to state and change from time to time. Always consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions about the problems described in this article. Thanks.