How To Choose A Good Lawyer
Some problems are easy to resolve. Simply meeting up with the other person and talking things through might end the matter. But not all problems are like that and some very complex ones would require legal assistance, that is going to court. If you are faced with such a problem, then you should let a lawyer handle it for you. Most people like to think that they can bypass the need for a lawyer by attempting to solve the problem themselves, but they only end up complicating matters and making the problem harder to resolve. Remember that you are always better off with a lawyer.
Before you dismiss the thought of hiring a lawyer, think of all the things a lawyer can help you with
- Paperwork: most legal cases involve one paperwork or the other. At a point, you may have so many forms to fill and more documents to file that may be overwhelming for you. Just leave it to a lawyer to deal with your paperwork troubles.
- Advice: legal advice is something that should not be taken for granted. Sometimes, all you need is some quality legal advice. The good thing about advice from a lawyer is that it is free of sentiments and emotion and it always considers the bigger picture.
- Representation: if you are thinking of representing yourself at court, you might want to have a rethink. Standing in a court, representing yourself is not as easy as you may think. Your limited knowledge of legal proceedings coupled with the pressure from the other party’s counsel may end up breaking you. But a competent lawyer would have no problem representing you at court.
Now we have seen some of the key things a lawyer can help you with, how then do you find a good lawyer? Of course, not everybody who claims to be a lawyer would be competent enough and what you want is a good lawyer. Finding a good lawyer is easier than you think and we have outlined some tips to help you below:
Conduct your search
The first thing to do is to start your search and there are two ways you can do that;
Personal Referrals
You can begin by asking those around you for options. A personal recommendation or referral will mostly turn out good. Ask your close friends, relatives, or colleagues at work who have gone through similar issues as yours for the lawyer they contacted and worked with. People would only refer you to professionals that performed excellently. Be sure to choose a local lawyer from the recommended options because you may need a lawyer that is familiar with your local laws.
Go online
Another way to get options is by looking online. You can conduct searches to look for lawyers near you. Besides that, several online directories exist that could point you in the way of a lawyer within your state.
Area of specialization
When looking for a lawyer, you have to make sure that the lawyer is specialized in a branch of law that would be helpful to your case. For example, if you had a car accident and would like to file a claim, what you need is a car accident lawyer or a lawyer that is well versed in personal injury law. In that case, a civil rights or real estate lawyer would not be of any help to you.
Experience
Always make sure you go for a lawyer with experience. This gives you a better standing. Ask the lawyer about how long they have been practicing law and the kind of cases they have handled. Each branch of law is further divided into other smaller practice areas. Make sure that the lawyer you pick is one that can easily identify with your case and must have had similar experiences in the past.
Knowledge Of Local Laws
In addition to all other traits, any lawyer you are hiring must know the state and local laws. That is why it is best to choose a lawyer within your state. Such a lawyer would have no problem understanding the local laws and also knows how cases are presented in courts in your state. No matter how good their reputation is, a lawyer from another state who has no idea of the laws in your state would not be the best option for you.
Time
Lawyers are always busy. This is mainly because they deal with more than one case at a go. When choosing, look for one that makes time to attend to you and address your legal needs. Ask the lawyer how free they are and when they expect to begin on your case.
Communication
You want a lawyer that would have no problem getting back to you. The last thing you would want to do is hire a lawyer that keeps you in suspense as they take weeks or even months before they get back to you. When hiring a lawyer, ask them how often they would get back to you and the preferred medium of communication.
Reputation
The reputation of the lawyer you are hiring is also worth considering. You want a lawyer that has a good record from a good law firm, like CGG law firm to take on your case rather than one with a questionable record.
References
Before hiring a lawyer, it would not be out of place to request a reference or two from previous clients so you can be sure of the quality of the person you are giving your case to. A successful lawyer would have no problem providing you with references, which you can follow up with a call, to ask how it was to work with the lawyer.
Fees
Make sure to know the fees before hiring a lawyer. Also, most lawyers charge by the hour, some would be willing to work with you to agree on a plan that would favor both of you. Find out how you would be paying the fees and what they include before committing yourself to a lawyer.
Perception
How you perceive the lawyer to be is quite important. If you do not feel comfortable with a lawyer, despite their quality and good name, then you should not hire them. Only hire a lawyer that makes you feel comfortable as that would make it easier for you both to work together.
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