Before You Hire A Litigation Attorney: Five Things You Should Consider

If you're preparing for a legal case, you might be tempted to handle everything yourself. After all, do you really need a litigation lawyer? If you're asking yourself this question, the answer probably is yes. Litigation attorneys are specially trained to handle cases that go before a judge or jury and can help with all aspects of your case. Before hiring one, consider these five things.

Do They Think You Have A Case?

Determining whether or not you even have a case is the first step. If you're the one bringing the suit against someone else, an attorney can tell you if they think it's a good idea. If you're the one being sued, a reputable lawyer can convey the best and worst case scenarios. This is simply an educated opinion; however, it's important to remember that juries can come up with a number of different outcomes. A law firm can only tell you how they think it will turn out and cannot guarantee a specific outcome. If you're being promised that your case will turn out a certain way, it's a sign you may need to keep looking.

What's The Litigation Lawyer's Specialty?

It's important to find a lawyer with the right kind of experience. There are many different types of law and it won't do any good to hire someone with a specialty in personal injury if you're looking for help settling a divorce or contesting a will. A respectable attorney will tell you if your case is not a part of his or her specialty and may be able to direct you toward someone else who can help you.

How Many Wins Vs Losses?

A win/loss record is definitely important. Many people might be shy about asking potential litigation attorneys about their record, but don't be. A reputable lawyer will be happy to tell you about their record. A high win record is a good indication that the firm doesn't take on cases they don't think they can win and a less successful record means the firm probably isn't picky about what cases they take on. Chances are that you're in good hands if your firm has a successful record.

Cost

Cost can be an important factor when making a selection between litigation attorneys. Will the firm work entirely on contingency, meaning there's no up front cost for you? Or will you need to pay a retainer and cover some of the case's costs as it progresses? This is something you'll definitely want to discuss with a firm before you hire them.

Communication

Before hiring someone, ask them about their communication style. How often should you expect to be updated on your suit? Will you need to chase your litigation attorney down to find out what's going on? Communication between law firm and client is important and you should never feel like you're bothering the firm if you're looking for an update.

Interviewing litigation attorneys shouldn't be a difficult process. Ask a lot of questions before signing a contract and in the end, you can be sure that you've made the right decision.