Not only is hiring a lawyer important, but finding and using the right one is just as important. If you don't know how to find a good lawyer, then don't worry. Below are the steps you'll want to take to find and choose one.
1. Know What Kind Of Attorney You Need- Not all attorneys can help you with your situation. If you need a will created or updated, then a lot of attorneys can help. However, if you want to fight for custody of your kids, then you don't want to hire a tax attorney or a criminal attorney or a personal injury attorney. Figure out what kind of lawyer you need before doing anything.
2. Find Local Attorneys- Find local attorneys. Make a list of the ones you find. Don't worry because this doesn't take long to do, so don't skip this step.
3. Referrals- Do you know someone who has used an attorney? If so, ask them who they used and what kind of lawyer they used. Ask everyone you know whether or not they've ever used a lawyer, and then you can contact the ones that specialize in the area of law that is relevant to your case.
4. Read Reviews- Referrals are good, but you also want to read reviews on the internet. Reviews can help you narrow down your choices. If you don't want to let anybody you know that you need an attorney, then simply read reviews about lawyers. Just make sure the review sites you use are reputable and verify their reviews.
5. Verify The Lawyers' Background- Before hiring an attorney, make sure they can practice law in your state. If you live in an area that borders another state and if your legal issues crosses state lines, then you will want to hire a lawyer who can practice law in your state and the other state. Also, you'll want to know whether or not any complaints were lodged against the attorneys before you decide to hire them.
6. What Is Your Budget- The next step is to determine what your budget is. Be realistic about how much you can afford to spend on your legal issue. There are attorneys who do work on a contingency basis, which means they only get paid if they successfully win your case.
However, lawyers who work on a contingency basis usually only work on cases which involves settlements. This is why you need to ask the attorneys what their fees are. Do this either via the phone or email.
7. Schedule A Free Consultation- After you have narrowed down your list to three attorneys, it's time to meet them in person. Only book a meeting with attorneys that have free initial consultations. You want to meet an attorney face-to-face because you'll get a feel for how they are and how comfortable you feel with them.
8. Choose One- You don't have all the time in the world when it comes to finding and choosing an attorney. Eventually you do have to make a decision, which is the final step. After you meet with your top three choices, you'll want to make a final decision. Take a good day or two to think about it and then you can decide which one to hire.
Finding an attorney starts with knowing what kind of lawyer you need, and then you'll want to locate professionals that serve your area. Don't forget to ask for referrals from people you know and then take the time to read reviews. This will help you narrow down your list.
Also, check the attorneys' backgrounds and then schedule a consultation with the attorneys who have made it onto your shortlist. Ask them how much they charge and ask them any other questions you can think of. After you do all of those things, then it's time to make a decision.
