How to Find and Hire a Lawyer
Once you have determined that the services of a lawyer are right for you, you must them decide which type of lawyer you will need. Some legal issues, such as divorce or bankruptcy, will require the services of a specialist. Many attorneys specialize in one area of law. These areas include tax law, family law, business law and criminal law. Other lawyers practice what is called general law. These attorneys are trained to handle a wide range of legal issues and can usually help their clients with many different issues and legal areas.
Once you have chosen a specific type of lawyer, you will need to locate one in your area. There are many different ways to find a lawyer, including the phonebook and television advertising, but the best way is usually through a referral. Referrals work better because they usually give you more information about the lawyer and his or her practice. Generally, television and print ads only include the information that the lawyer or the law firm want included. With a referral, you can have a more complete picture of a lawyer's practice and general professionalism.
Two good places to get referrals include word of mouth and referral directories. Word of mouth referrals come from friends, family or colleagues that have faced similar legal situations and, by using an attorney, have had their issues resolved in a competent and positive manner.
Referral directories are good for those individuals that do not have word of mouth referrals. These directories can be found online or through your state's bar association. Online referral directories are very useful because they usually list more than just a name and specialty. These directories usually include helpful information about a lawyer's firm, his or her caseload, fees, areas of expertise and general practices.
Once you have narrowed down your choices to a few lawyers, it is best to schedule an initial consultation with all of them before choosing which one to hire. Most lawyers offer a free initial consultation and clients can use these meetings to ask questions and determine if that particular lawyer is right for them and their case. These meetings are the perfect time to discuss a lawyer's fees, his or her current caseload, and feelings about your particular case and other legal ramifications of the case.
When discussing fees, it is important to keep in mind that most lawyers operate on one of three fee schedules. These include flat rate billing, hourly billing and contingency billing. Flat rate billing is where the lawyer charges just one fee for all of his or her services. Hourly billing means that the lawyer will charge a certain fee for each hour that they work on your case, These hours will include court time but also any research, paperwork and phone calls that your lawyer must handle. Contingency billing means that your lawyer will collect his or her fee from any monetary judgment that you receive from the case.
Hourly rate billing is usually preferred by clients that have a common, easy to settle legal issue that will require nominal time and research. Clients that have a larger legal issue that may require multiple court appearances and vast research prefer flat fees. Contingency billing is best for clients that will most likely receive a large monetary award as judgment in their case.
By following the above tips and choosing the lawyer that is right for you and your situation, you will stand a better chance of achieving the outcome that you are looking for.