Almost everything we do is affected by laws. There are so many laws that it would take a person with average reading ability over a thousand years to read the law book. As if we have nothing else to do with our lives but read laws. So what do we do when a legal situation arises? Do we handle it ourselves or do we call an attorney trained in the legal field? For many people, the idea of calling a lawyer can be scary. Sometimes they may not even know if they need a lawyer or how to choose one, so they may avoid contacting a lawyer even when it is in their best interest to do so. However, do your homework before hiring an attorney for yourself and/or your business. Anytime you are faced with serious legal or medical issues, you still need to make a good informed decision about who will represent you. And it doesn’t have to be as difficult or as expensive as you think to find a good lawyer. Here are some quick tips that can ease the stress of finding a lawyer.
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 learning about all the laws and legal procedures relevant to your case, you stand a very good chance of losing. It is very easy to overlook a legal aspect that affects your case and can sometimes lead to unforeseen legal consequences that can be difficult and expensive 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 you are faced with a problem that you believe 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 injuries. These laws called the “statute of limitations” are designed to encourage people to immediately come forward and make their case. But this doesn’t mean you just have to pick the first lawyer you come across because you’re in a hurry, as you’ll learn with these tips.
How do I choose the “right” lawyer for me?
From a personal aspect, selecting a lawyer is always a personal matter. But, as with any service provider, the lawyer only provides his service to his client. Therefore, the lawyer-client relationship must be based on trust and open and honest communication so that the lawyer can provide the best of his service. It requires a mutual commitment from both the client and the lawyer. If the client is not fully cooperating, the attorney may not be able to provide the best of his or her service. At the same time, if the lawyer 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 must 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 it to someone you don’t trust.
From a professional aspect, people tend to believe that just any lawyer can handle any case. This deceptive trust often works to the disadvantage of the customer. No lawyer is an expert in all areas of law. Therefore, in order to find the “right” attorney for your case, you shouldn’t be shy about asking your prospective attorney questions until you gain full confidence in his or her ability. Only then would I choose that lawyer. In fact, as you ask 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:
– How much experience do you have in this area of the law (the area of your legal need)?
– Will you or one of your associates handle my case? – if an associate is handling your case, that is the person to interview.
– How many cases like mine have you handled? – Ask for the specifications of each case.
– Could you provide me with references to any or each of the cases? – Be sure to call each of the customers to find out about their experience.
A responsible and understanding attorney would have no problem providing you with answers. If the lawyer stalls on every question and doesn’t provide specific answers, she should keep looking. Also, always check with your state Bar Association if that lawyer has been the subject of an ethics complaint or inquiry.
Where do I find a lawyer?
No matter where you look for a lawyer, always keep the advice above in mind to choose the right lawyer for you. However, here are some places to look for a lawyer:
– Yellow Pages and Ads – When you open your local yellow pages, don’t it seem like doctors and lawyers cover half the book with ads? It almost seems as if they are the only ones who have the money for entire ad pages. Speaking of ads, unless you have marketing/sales knowledge and experience, you’ll never know how ads work. The ads are designed 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 tells the truth and which has the truth blown out of proportion. But this is a very good place to at least get some names and phone numbers of local lawyers and start your selection process.
– Your Circle of Society – Your family, friends, people you work with, people you talk to, people you know… start asking. This is one of the most reliable sources for him. You will have the opportunity to get first hand experience. Someone who has been in the same or a similar situation could tell you about their experience (good or bad) with their lawyer. If your experience has been nothing but good, you have half your job 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 reliable referrals come from people you trust (business colleagues, friends, and family) who have recently used attorneys. Word of mouth from a satisfied customer is usually 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 established by the bar association for the first conference. The Bar Association may also be able to tell you if a lawyer has been the subject of an ethics complaint or inquiry from previous clients.
– The Internet – Indeed Internet. But this is your least reliable source because it could all be on the net. However, as with advertisements, you can use the Internet to obtain at least a list of local attorneys practicing in your problem area so that you can begin the selection process. On the Internet, search for attorney directories, such as Martindale.com; lawyer referral services, such as LegalMatch.com; people/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 a lawyer or other professional if the content of the article involves an issue 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 on the issues described in this article. Thank you.