How To Find The Best Lawyer For Your Case Or Claim

Oct 17, 2010 by Kevin Anderson

Choosing The Best Lawyer

Anyone who’s ever tried to find a lawyer knows how this can be a difficult task. If you use the yellow pages or try to find an attorney online it’s like swimming in a sea of offers and do not know where to turn to find the right one. Sometimes, even with the recommendations of friends, family and acquaintances, it can be difficult to find the right lawyer for your needs.

Finding The Best Lawyer

The first thing you need to do is decide what type of lawyer you need, based on the legal situation you are dealing with. There are several different types of lawyers, and their specialties range from a wide variety of fields.

Important Factors When Picking A Lawyer

• Lawyer Experience: Having years of experience as a lawyer is an important factor that should not be overlooked. Not only should they have practical experience in the right field, as well, they should be placed in the area for which you need legal representation. A lawyer who might be great in criminal cases, may not be so great in family law.

• Lawyer Costs: Generally lawyers are costly, but you should not choose a lawyer based solely on their price. The most expensive lawyers are not necessarily the best and those who do not charge high fees can also be wonderful. Do not make cost the primary factor in choosing the best lawyer for your situation.

• Attorney References: Ask if you can get references from former clients and contact them if you can. Try to find out how many cases he/she has won. And if you can, see how their legal colleagues view them.

• Advice About Lawyers: Do not be afraid to ask your family, friends and colleagues for advice. Especially those whom have had experience with attorneys in the past. Those whom have had to use an attorney in the past will probably give you advice based on their experience.

• Trusted Lawyers: If you already have a trusted lawyer, but your question is not in his/her field, you can ask him/her to recommend another attorney more experienced in the proper field. For example, a family lawyer could probably refer to a good criminal or real estate lawyer and vice versa.

• Feel Good About Your Attorney: You must feel comfortable and not ignore your first impressions and your instincts. A great lawyer will sit with a potential client and listen while you talk. His/her body language will show you how well they are paying attention to you and your needs. Try to determine if he/she seems really interested in your case and wants to help. If you do not feel comfortable with the lawyer you are considering, then it is a good sign that you should continue your search for a lawyer. If in doubt, try another lawyer. You must feel comfortable with your attorney and believe that he/she will work in your best interest.

• Young Lawyers & Old Lawyers: Sometimes when you search for a professional, you are tempted to consider age as a determining factor. Be aware that this is not necessarily a good indicator of the experience of a lawyer or his abilities. Sometimes a young lawyer who is trying to make a name for himself (or herself) will put more work in to win a case and will do a great job for his/her clients. Remember that although a younger lawyer may not have obvious experience in the courtroom, but he/she is definitely still familiar with case law studies. And know that case law wins a lot of cases in and out of the courtroom.

• Legal Fees – Attorney Fees: After choosing a lawyer that you feel is right for you, be sure to obtain as much information as possible on the cost and payment options. Knowing the payment options will help you be prepared to pay for legal representation when you have made your decision. It’s always a good idea for you to have an understanding of the estimated fees that it will take to complete your case from beginning to the end. Don’t just ask how many months it might take to win a case; you need to ask how many hours he/she thinks they will have to put into the case to win it.

Lawyers Are There To Help

In closing, while there are definitely some bad apples in the legal field, lawyers are there to help you win your case. Their records in the courtroom are important to them as they can use their reputation to advance in their careers. This is true, even for attorneys who operate independently. If they don’t win any cases, they won’t get referrals. As well, if they seek a judgeship or a political seat (and a lot of lawyers do strive for these goals) they won’t be able to reach it if they hold a horrible record in and out of the courtroom. As well, the American Bar Association (the association that controls the management and distribution of law licenses for attorneys in the United States) holds very high standards and is quick to revoke the license of an attorney who does not follow the ethical standards set forth by the ABA; or an attorney who is proven to fail their clients due to multiple malpractice suits. The last thing an attorney wants is to be disbarred. If they lose their license, they will have to find a new line of work. That being said, it’s safe to assume that most lawyers will do a good job, however, it’s up to you to find a lawyer that will be likely to do a great job.

This post was submitted by Kevin Anderson.