A Guide to Finding Legal Assistance

Often, people will hire the first attorney who speaks to them, and sometimes people may decide to hire an attorney based upon his or her advertisements, without even meeting the legal representative. Unless you want to suffer in court, this is not what you should do. Here are some guidelines to follow when looking for legal assistance:

1. Check an Attorney’s Expertise

Don’t just hire anyone; get to know their skills and abilities. If they studied medical copyrights and you have an international taxation case, that makes a big difference. A smart consumer should research the attorney to ensure that he or she is skilled in a specific area of the trial. For example disability attorneys have a different set of expertise than personal injury lawyers .

2. Fees Matter

Don’t just go with your gut! Do not hire anyone without finding out his or her average rates. Check rates and make sure the lawyer is a good value.

3. Don’t Use Your Attorney as a Therapist

Attorneys can be very supportive and such good listeners. However, many attorneys charge a fee for time spent consulting with clients. Paying $600 per hour to be heard by your attorney is not a good value. Save your consulting time to discuss things that are pertinent to your case. It’s a good idea to hire your attorney based on their professionalism and hire a good family therapist separately. You attorney is not your family counselor he’s your legal counselor.

4. Pick a Lawyer who has a Compatible Schedule

If you and your attorney have a compatible schedule, you can find time to work together. If he or she is over-booked, you’ll find that no matter how much you pay per hour, you won’t get the service you deserve.

In short, you should do your homework and meet prospective lawyers in person to get a feel for their level of organization and professionalism. Ask important questions and find out if your schedules work well together. If you play it safe, your day in court with your attorney may go more smoothly.