24 Tips On Hiring A Competent Lawyer
Here are some tips on hiring a good lawyer:
- - Choose A Professional. The worst mistake you can make is choosing a lawyer you can’t trust. There are thousands of solicitors on the net. It’s necessary to discover one you can rely on. You want a good deal but it’s important you’re choosing one with a high standing. Ask your friends, family, neighbours and colleagues for recommendations.
- - It’s A Competitive Market. There are many web sites proffering legal services.
Most are directories or resellers. A reseller is someone who passes you onto the lawyer who will actually handle your case. This can save you money, or be a damned nuisance. The attorney you choose ought to be in sync your requirements and circumstances. You do not need an ambulance chaser for a serious criminal charge. If you’re skint, some good lawyers do ‘pro bono publico’ work; free, ‘for the public good’. - - What’s Involved In Your Case? You need to get the overall picture, and what your role will be as the case plays out. You also want to get an idea of how good a communicator your solicitor is. Attorneys are advocates; if they cannot communicate clearly to you, they’ll likely not have the ability to do it in a law court.
- - Shop Around. Get quotes from three or four professionals. You may be able to save yourself thousands in fees. Don’t employ a professional just because they have the cheapest rates.
Consider the overall, long term fees and how important the case is to you. - - A Law Firm Or Just A Referral Service? Referral companies have sites that make them appear to be the complete package. They take your case and then flog it to the real law firm who will pay them a fee. Once you’ve settled upon a few law firms, you can enter their business name in a search engine with the words ‘problem’ or ‘scam’, and see what comes up. It may be revealing!
- - Gird Your Loins And Flex Your Wallet. Law is slow; preparation for a trial and then the trial itself will take months, sometimes years. Initial costs will be in the thousands. Costs are items like hiring expert witnesses, travel, depositions etc. The lawyer who represents you advances these initial fees that are associated with the trail and preparation.
- - Make Sure You Are Comparing Like With Like. When shopping for a lawyer on the internet, compare apples with apples. It’s foolish to line up a kid fresh out of school against a senior partner in a firm that dates from early last century. Suit the man to his employment!
- - Contingency Fee. When pursuing damages, try to hire a solicitor who’ll take on your case on a contingency-fee basis; he won’t get paid until you get paid. Make sure you clearly understand the payment schedule before you commit to the retainer contract. He’ll take his fees out of the money you get in your settlement; about one-third of your final settlement _after_ expenses are taken off the top!
- - The Firm’s Area Of Expertise: Some law firms web sites make it seem the firm specialises in cases like yours, but their experience is in other areas. A misinterpretation of pertinent law could be deadly to your case.
- - Ensure Your Attorney Is Aware that you will not pay anything that isn’t covered in advance by a signed and agreed-on estimate. If during the work new fees arise, make sure that your solicitor understands that you have to pre-approve the expenditure or it will not be paid for by you.
- - Put It In Writing. Disputes arise over assumptions not put down in writing. The attorney has his version of your ‘verbal agreement’, and you have yours. Disputes are best avoided by clearly spelling out everything in advance; the basis of a good contract.
- - Ask If The Solicitor Intends To Really Handle Your Case Himself. Many firms simply refer on the job to the ‘real’ specialist and get part of the fees in return. This might not be in your best interests.
- - Some Questions You Ought to Ask: How many years have you been in practice? How speedily can I expect my case to be finished? When can we meet? How long have you been with your current firm? Are you a partner or an associate? Time and accessibility. How much will the total cost be, approximately? How do you charge for your services? Can you give a detailed, written statement of cost? Is the first consultation free? Do you communicate via telephone, mobile phone, fax or email?
- - Demand A Written Estimate Of Fees, all disbursements and extras. They don’t usually get asked this sort of request. Make sure that the estimate includes an upper limit, an hourly rate and a schedule of chargeable items. Attorneys usually charge for telephone calls and photocopies. Be sure and cover contingencies with him. What will the fees be if the unpredictable occurs? You will want to be aware before you get a large bill. Attorneys aren’t charities. They’re in this game to make a profit and only the simple-minded would begrudge them. It cost a lot to get them where they are, so they charge you for it.
- - Educate Yourself About Basic Pertinent Law, both in theory and practice. Look up past cases. Then you may ask your lawyer informed questions, instead of paying his fees and hoping for the best.
- - Complete Disclosure. Be completely honest when reviewing your case with a solicitor. He can only succeed with your case if he’s aware of all the relevant info; if you keep something back it could trip you (and him) up further on. Tell him as much as you’re aware of. Do try to recall every relevant detail. Any related photos and literature you have will be very useful to him in evaluating your case.
- - A Lot Is At Stake. If you want to break a man, tie him up in lawsuits. Sit down with a number of lawyers before you come to a final decision. Consider trying to get a few recommendations. Unless you’re broke, free legal aid isn’t the way to go. You tend to get the law you pay for, regrettably.
- - Do Some Sums. Get out pen, paper and calculator. What’s the worst that could happen? Do you have enough cash to cover the lawyer’s expenses if you lose? You should ask yourself if you truly need an attorney. Do you really need to begin proceedings? A lengthy court case can hang like a sword of Damocles over your head.
- - Any solicitor who will not give you an half-hour free initial consultation is not worth meeting. Tell them upfront you want to discuss all cash matters up front at the initial meeting. Most solicitor and client disagreements are caused by misunderstandings over cash.
- - Find The Right Lawyer. Most people find lawyers by the following methods: 1) In the US, you can contact state bar associations. 2) Lawyer referral services will refer you to a lawyer who specialises in your problem, for a fee. These services can be discovered in the yellow pages. 3) Recommendations from other businessmen, friends and family who have used a lawyer recently. 4) Advertisements. ‘No charge and ‘free’ are warning signs. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many worthwhile solicitors do not advertise. Avoid hiring one who knocks at your door unannounced. ‘Ambulance chasing’, known technically as barratry, is often forbidden by local bar associations. If he’s bending or breaking rules to find clients, how likely is it he’ll follow them to win your case in a court of law?
- - Learn How To Fire Him. A contract can specify that even if you sack a lawyer, he can still get a sizeable cut of any future payout or award you may receive on your case. Ensure you know how to dismiss your attorney, preferably before you hire him!
- - Know Your Options. Be sure your lawyer informs you of them. Solicitors don’t just pursue lawsuits. Lawsuits can be a most time-consuming and costly method for one to get compensated. Ensure your solicitor is open about other methods to resolve your problem, such as arbitration or mediation.
- - Ask What Can Be Expected As A Retainer. If you like a certain lawyer feel free to negotiate over fees. A solicitor likes to charge by the hour, but often their rates can be negotiated.
There are too many solicitors with too few clients today. You can get a better deal. - - Are You Getting The Best Deal from a energetic, capable person, or a fly-by-night carpet-bagger, who, when you need them the most, will not return your calls? Trust your intuition over your head.
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I hope these few handy suggestions will be of some use to you in hiring a good lawyer.
N. Svengali is an author for lawyer and UK personal loans internet sites in London, UK.
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