Choosing Attorneys

SOME TIPS ON CHOOSING AN ATTORNEY

Choosing the right attorney is very important. It really involves some common sense decision making that we do every day for other things. Here are a few things to consider.

First, determine how long has the lawyer been practicing. Young lawyers are often very talented. But nothing beats experience. No one feels too comfortable with a “brand new” surgeon or a new mechanic or barber. It takes time to develop technique and to have seen the tactics of other lawyers.

Second, find out if the lawyer limits his practice to a specific area. Everybody with a license to practice law is authorized to represent anyone in any type of case. There are some very gifted general practitioners, but the world is more and more complicated. The law and technology are constantly developing. While there are exceptions, the lawyers who limit their practice to a single area are the most current on developments within that area.

Third, get a feel for how busy a lawyer is. We all like to stay busy and you probably don’t want a lawyer who doesn’t have very many cases, but you do not want a lawyer who is too busy to handle your case properly.

Fourth, be certain that the law firm can afford to handle your case. Lawsuits are very expensive when done properly. The client doesn’t usually have a stockpile of spare cash lying around to fund their case so the firm advances the expenses. You don’t want to over spend, because it reduces the client’s recovery. But you can’t take the cheap road and have any success.

Fifth, talk to other people you know and see if they have a lawyer they believe to be good. However, remember that they might not have a good basis for judging a lawyer’s ability.

Sixth, try to get a referral from another lawyer who may not practice in the field of law in which you are involved. The legal community in pretty knowledgeable about who is capable and who is not.
 
Seventh, meet with the lawyer. You use the same judgment to determine if you like and trust a lawyer that you use to choose a mechanic or a doctor. For that matter, you pick your friends the same way. Trust you instincts.

Finally, think hard before you rely on a television ad for a lawyer. Anyone can buy air time on TV or a page in the yellow pages. Some are good lawyers some are not, but the TV station doesn’t guarantee anything but that they paid for their ad.

Once you decide that you have found the person you are comfortable with, make certain that you understand the contract and what is required of you and what you can expect from your lawyer. Remember that changing lawyers in the middle of case is sometimes necessary but it is never a good thing. So be careful from the start.