Hiring a lawyer for any purpose an be intimidating. You want to be sure that you have adequate legal representation, while also feeling that your lawyer has your best interests in mind. To help ease the stress, here are some questions to ask a lawyer before hiring them.
Do you have any successful experiences in trying cases like mine?
This is a very important question. If your lawyer does not have trial experience with a case that is similar to yours, the other side will know this and will use it to their advantage.
The biggest threat your attorney poses to your opponent is their ability to take them to court. If the opposing company knows that your attorney has a poor courtroom record, they will never offer you the settlement you deserve.
What types of cases does your law firm handle?
You need to be careful, because a lawyer may tell you that they have handled personal injuries, for example, or that they will represent you for an injury case, but you need to make sure that sort of work is ALL they do. A fair amount of law firms operate as general practitioners, which means they handle every sort of issue.
Make sure to choose an attorney who specializes in the sort of case that you wish to take to court.
How long have you handled (whatever your case is)?
History is a really good indicator of experience. A lot of firms will boast about their combined years of experience. This is good, but you need to make sure you have a firm that also has an extensive, successful history handling your type of case.
How long will it take to resolve my case?
Lawyers are asked this question all the time, and it’s a great question to ask. The answer will depend on certain factors, such as how many resources your attorney is willing to dedicate to your case.
What are my responsibilities in my case?
There are few, but they are very critical if you want your case to succeed. Your attorney should make sure you know everything that you have to get done before and during your case.
A law firm should work with you, not against you. Be suspicious if your attorney gives you a long to-do list.
Additional Help
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Great post! I have been debating whether or not to hire a lawyer and this post, along with many other posts have convinced me. I want to get what I deserve! Thanks so much for all these tips, I will keep them in mind.
No problem, and don’t forget to check us out if you have trouble finding the right lawyer!