You might think that it should be possible to go through life without needing a lawyer, but that is rarely the case. Most people have a lawyer who they know and trust, perhaps someone their family has used in the past. Having this connection can be great, but how do you know they are always going to be the right choice for your case? Whether you have had a personal injury, a workplace dispute, or are getting married, different lawyers will be better suited for different cases. This article aims to give you some tips on how to choose the right lawyer for your specific situation.
What Specific Skills Do They Have?
Firstly, you need to understand what specific skills and areas of expertise this lawyer has. Usefully, most lawyers and law firms will explain what type of cases they usually work on and why they are good at winning them. Although technically any lawyer should be able to work on any case, essentially all of them specialize in one area. For instance, Colorado law firm Earl & Earl, PLLC tends to specialize in personal injury lawsuits. Depending on what you need legal assistance with, you should choose a lawyer or law firm that has the specific skills to be able to help you out. This is one of the best ways to choose the right lawyer for your specific situation.
Look At Their Portfolio
Lawyers will not be able to discuss details of their ongoing cases, but they should be able to give you an overview of their previous wins. If you can see that they have worked cases before that are very similar to yours, that they have managed to win, then this is a really good sign that they could be the right one for you. Equally, you should check how many cases they have worked that are similar to yours as it might not be something that they do often but they just happened to win one case at some point. You might think that a law firm with a diverse portfolio would be a good thing, but it depends. If it is a big firm with lots of lawyers then they probably will have different people who can specialize in different areas. If it’s a small firm or independent lawyer then you would want to see what they are best at. The better lawyers tend not to be a jack of all trades and you should not be a master of none for your specific case.
How Local Are They?
The locality of your lawyer is important for several reasons. Firstly, the ease of being able to visit them and then visit you. If you are going to need to discuss aspects of the case frequently, you don’t want to have to be travelling back and forth over a long distance. Unless you live in a smaller town where they might not be a really good lawyer close by, you should try and find one in the same city as you. The second reason is that if the lawyer is local to your state then they will understand the specific laws of that area better than someone out of town. The devil is in the detail with a lot of cases and you will want someone with local knowledge on your side. Unless you are looking to hire the best lawyer in the country, try to find someone who works near you as it will make your life a whole lot easier.
How Much Do They Cost?
The price of a lawsuit is always going to be high but that largely depends on the hourly rate of your lawyer. Prices vary but along with therapists, lawyers have some of the highest hourly rates of any profession that bills in that way. It is a bit of a catch 22 however, as you will want to pay for a good lawyer, as opposed to the cheapest one, in the hope that they will be able to win the case for you more easily. Equally though, if you rack up a huge legal bill, the amount that you were potentially hoping to win might be significantly diminished. All these things depend greatly on what type of case it is. If it is a civil liberty or justice case, then you may be able to find a lawyer willing to work pro-bono. Although this is something of a Hollywood trope, it does still happen in real life too. Picking a lawyer based on their price is a sensible option as the expenses start to rack up fast.
Do You Get On With Them?
Last but by no means least, it is important to find a lawyer that you get on with, on a personal level. Many lawyers will uphold a very professional persona whilst working, as they have to be very serious at all times. However, there will always be a trace of personality that shines through and if you don’t click with that person, it will be hard to trust them with your case. Before deciding who you want to choose as your lawyer, you should have a few meetings with them. Go to their office for a chat, try to meet them for a quick coffee. Speak with them about personal things, unrelated to the case and use your instincts to judge how well you might get on with them. You’re going to end up spending a lot of time with them if your case drags on and you must be able to enjoy their company. The right lawyer for any specific situation is one that you can trust and get along with.
What Is Right For You
Ultimately, the decision of who you would like to be on your legal counsel is up to you. As mentioned in the above article, there are many different factors to consider before making your decision. No matter what, you need to choose the lawyer who you think will best help you win your case. Whether that ends up being the cheapest one, the one who you don’t quite get along with or one that lives further away, you need to make the right choice for your specific case.
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