Lawyer-Choosing Tips

When choosing a lawyer, whether for something simple like an uncomplicated divorce or something more complex like a custody battle or civil rights case, you want to do all you can to ensure that you have the right attorney for the job. The right attorney can mean the difference between winning your case and being left with nothing but big bills. As you search for one, here are some tips to keep in mind.

Things You Should Not Do

When hiring a lawyer, there are certain things you should never do. One thing is trusting television ads when making your choice. Lawyers who have the time to spend making impressive television commercials may not be investing as much time as possible in their actual cases. Also, the kind of attorney who is a good “actor” does not always do well in court. Remember that the clients shown on these ads may not be actual clients. They may be hired actors. An attorney with a television ad may not be the wrong choice, but do not put too much stock in these advertisements.

Similarly, do not rely on the phonebook when choosing an attorney. Of course, you can go to the phone book to get contact information, but you need to rely on other resources to learn about a lawyer’s reputation. A flashy phone book advertisement does not tell you anything about an attorney’s presence in court or willingness to fight for you.

Things You Should Always Do

Always ask friends, family members, and co-workers for references when choosing a lawyer. First-hand experience is always the best indicator of how well a particular professional is going to do for you. Of course, you need to remember that an attorney who did a wonderful job on your friend’s divorce may not handle your automobile accident case well. Ask for references, but make sure that the attorney is skilled in what you need him to be skilled in.

If you cannot find someone to give you a personal reference for a lawyer, then go online and look at reviews for attorneys in your area who are skilled in the type of law you need help in. Online review websites can give you insight into the people skills and success rate of a particular attorney.

You may also want to choose your attorney with payment options in mind. Some lawyers will charge an hourly rate, while others will charge a percentage. If you will be having something fairly standard done, like making up a will, you may even find an attorney who will charge a per-job fee. If you are uncertain of your ability to win a case, consider hiring an attorney who charges on a contingency basis, which means they only charge if you win your case.

Hiring a lawyer represents a significant investment of money, so you need to take the time to make sure that you get the right one. While nothing is guaranteed in the legal industry, doing your homework beforehand makes it more likely that you will get a good, solid attorney to help with your case.