Whether you’re suing or being sued, legal issues can be a costly hassle that you should never handle without professional advice. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find a lawyer that has the right problem-solving skills and experience to provide you with the legal counsel you need. Finding the right attorney is never as easy as simply sifting through the phone book, you have to do a little research first.
The most common form of finding the right lawyer is by word of mouth. A friend, a co-worker, or family member may have experienced the same legal issues you are facing. With social media, like Facebook, which has several social groups that can provide their opinion, you can ask other people who are dealing with the same problems you are and get referrals.
Businesses may also be able to provide you with referrals to a competent attorney as most companies come into frequent contact with lawyers for business reasons. If you decide to go with an attorney referral service to find your legal counsel, you should check to see what type of screening process they use before listing an attorney.
If relevant to your situation, you can also seek out referrals through support groups. For example, if your case is about sexual harassment in the workplace, you might be able to get a good referral from a women’s support group.
You can’t however make a decision solely on someone’s recommendation anymore than you can do so by watching a law office commercial on television. Your best bet is to meet with several lawyers and get a feel for their personality and work ethic. Once you’re comfortable enough, you can discuss your case and determine whether they have sufficient experience and knowledge to win your case.
If you’re tech savvy, you can search for local lawyers online who have handled similar cases to yours. These days, law firms have a website which has a history of the firm, description of what cases they’ve handled and the number of years of experience of the attorneys. Once you’ve narrowed your selection, you can contact the attorney via e-mail and ask further questions that the site might not answer, or schedule an appointment to meet with them in person.
You can use attorney directories like “Nolo’s Lawyer Directory” to read up on an attorney’s information as well. The directory provides a detailed profile of a lawyer’s experience, education, fees and work philosophy. The best part is that lawyers listed in Nolo are in good standing with the bar association.
Make sure that your attorney is willing and able to communicate with you in an effective and timely manner. They should also be able to explain contracts and agreements clearly and discuss fees before you sign a contract with them.
You’re better off selecting a lawyer that specializes in a particular area, like divorce if you’re getting a divorce, or DUI attorney if you’ve been arrested for driving under the influence, etc. A “Jack of all Trades” type of lawyer may only have a basic knowledge of your particular case and will therefore be ill-prepared to provide you with the best legal service.
The most common form of finding the right lawyer is by word of mouth. A friend, a co-worker, or family member may have experienced the same legal issues you are facing. With social media, like Facebook, which has several social groups that can provide their opinion, you can ask other people who are dealing with the same problems you are and get referrals.
Businesses may also be able to provide you with referrals to a competent attorney as most companies come into frequent contact with lawyers for business reasons. If you decide to go with an attorney referral service to find your legal counsel, you should check to see what type of screening process they use before listing an attorney.
If relevant to your situation, you can also seek out referrals through support groups. For example, if your case is about sexual harassment in the workplace, you might be able to get a good referral from a women’s support group.
You can’t however make a decision solely on someone’s recommendation anymore than you can do so by watching a law office commercial on television. Your best bet is to meet with several lawyers and get a feel for their personality and work ethic. Once you’re comfortable enough, you can discuss your case and determine whether they have sufficient experience and knowledge to win your case.
If you’re tech savvy, you can search for local lawyers online who have handled similar cases to yours. These days, law firms have a website which has a history of the firm, description of what cases they’ve handled and the number of years of experience of the attorneys. Once you’ve narrowed your selection, you can contact the attorney via e-mail and ask further questions that the site might not answer, or schedule an appointment to meet with them in person.
You can use attorney directories like “Nolo’s Lawyer Directory” to read up on an attorney’s information as well. The directory provides a detailed profile of a lawyer’s experience, education, fees and work philosophy. The best part is that lawyers listed in Nolo are in good standing with the bar association.
Make sure that your attorney is willing and able to communicate with you in an effective and timely manner. They should also be able to explain contracts and agreements clearly and discuss fees before you sign a contract with them.
You’re better off selecting a lawyer that specializes in a particular area, like divorce if you’re getting a divorce, or DUI attorney if you’ve been arrested for driving under the influence, etc. A “Jack of all Trades” type of lawyer may only have a basic knowledge of your particular case and will therefore be ill-prepared to provide you with the best legal service.
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