Contrary to popular belief, not all lawyers are immoral, money-hungry liars who couldn’t care less about their clients.
Quite the opposite, all lawyers have sworn an oath to seek justice for their clients, and the majority of them put the interests of their clients first.
Luckily, there are some indicators of whether your desired lawyer can be trusted, and this article seeks to explore them.
So, here are the five things you should consider when searching for a lawyer.
1. Your lawyer’s accessibility
The first thing you need to consider when searching for a lawyer is how accessible they are. This could mean more than one thing.
For example, a lawyer whose offices are located close to you would be more convenient to reach and speak to in person whenever necessary. This could make your consultations faster and case preparation easier, which could cut down your final cost of hiring a lawyer.
Other than that, a local lawyer knows the local procedures, policies, judges, doctors, and other relevant participants. This can increase your odds of winning the case and getting fairly compensated.
Lastly, accessibility could also mean the ease with which you can communicate with your lawyer.
Ultimately, you want your lawyer to be:
- Available through different communication channels, including phone and e-mail
- Ready to respond quickly
- Open to answering any of your questions honestly and transparently
- Devoted to keeping the intimate details of your life and the intricacies surrounding your case confidential
- Someone you can trust for some time
2. A field of law your lawyer specializes in
While there’s nothing wrong with hiring a general practitioner, lawyers specializing in certain fields of law are bound to have deeper knowledge and extensive experience with a particular type of case.
For instance, if you’ve suffered adverse effects from Depo-Provera, hiring a lawyer experienced in similar cases can greatly increase your chances of success. Such a lawyer would understand the complexities of pharmaceutical lawsuits and be skilled in securing depo-provera lawsuit settlements, ensuring you receive fair compensation for your damages.
Likewise, if you’ve suffered an injury as a result of a slip and fall accident, for example, a lawyer who’s dealt with similar cases would be more efficient and likely have a special set of skills necessary to win the case.
Bigger law offices, like Spar & Bernstein Law Offices, tend to have different departments devoted to handling cases in specific fields of law, such as personal injury law or immigration law. This ensures that only highly skilled lawyers are assigned to your case and that they’re providing quality services.
3. Your lawyer’s reviews, success rate, and credentials
Reviews can be a great way to check whether other people consider your chosen lawyer’s services to be quality.
Deciding to enter into litigation is never easy and it often comes with high stakes, so you want to make sure that you’re hiring a lawyer who’s willing to go that extra mile to protect your interests.
Another thing that can attest to that is their success rate.
Sometimes, in the reviews, your lawyer’s past clients will reveal the resolution of their cases. Other times, that may not be the case.
In the latter situation, you can also check your lawyer’s reputation by asking their colleagues or checking the state bar’s association site for any misconduct or malpractice.
4. Your lawyer’s fees
Hiring a lawyer can be expensive, so a discussion regarding finances needs to happen as early as possible in your consultations.
Don’t be embarrassed to ask your lawyer about their fees, as this is a piece of information you need to have before making a decision. If they’re trying to weasel their way out of answering or aren’t being honest and upfront, ditch them.
Ask if they bill by the hour. If yes, ask if it is a “take it or leave it” kind of offer or if they’re open to negotiating.
Also, in certain cases, your attorneys’ fees could be covered by your opponent if you win. Ask whether this applies to your case and, if yes, how much you’re expected to pay upfront.
It’s also worth asking whether your lawyer will work for a contingency fee. This means that they don’t get any fees unless they win the case. Usually, lawyers like this are even more motivated to score a win.
Finally, ask about any additional or hidden fees that may appear along the way. Make this conversation as thorough and detailed as possible.
5. How your lawyer makes you feel
If you do decide to enter a litigation process, your lawyer will be your legal representative before the judges.
You want the person defending your interests to reflect your character and values and be able to build a narrative that can shine a positive light on you in the courtroom.
A lawyer that can put you at ease and doesn’t sugarcoat things can tell you whether your lawyer is capable of that.
That’s why it’s important to hire someone who’ll tell you things as they are, instead of trying to convince you to hire them just for the sake of profit.