HOW TO CHOOSE AN ATTORNEY

At one point or another, many people find themselves in a situation where they need the services of an attorney. There are a large number of circumstances where an attorney's experience and expertise would be needed, whether it is managing a real estate transaction, starting up a company, or dealing with a family law issue. It is important to know that an attorney offers service and that you can and should evaluate the services offered in much the same way as you would evaluate any other type of service you are looking to buy, as a potential consumer of that service.

• Research

For choosing an attorney, you must conduct research. In the research phase, you can start making a list of several lawyers from personal referrals of your friends, neighbours and business associates. Bar Associations are also good sources of finding your typical Advocate. The online resource is another good source which comes with the added benefit of consumer reviews. You will know ratings about interactions with the particular attorney to hire.

• Area of expertise

In some fields of law, lawyers prefer to specialize, since it is a very broad field of research, similar to medicine. While some follow the law of business, family, intellectual property, immigration, jobs, accident/injury, bankruptcy, criminal, or civil rights, others cover the law of real estate. A wide range of situations can also be open to lawyers, in which case they are referred to as lawyers of general practice. Most attorneys tend to practice and get good at it over time in one or two specific areas.

If your situation is specific to your company, then you may want to choose someone with corporate law experience. Alternatively, if you need help settling a criminal trial, then a criminal lawyer would be best because you can't expect a civil lawyer to argue efficiently regarding your needs of a criminal trial in a court because everyone has their specific area of practice.

• Experience 

In addition to someone with a speciality in the field of law you need, select a lawyer close to your own with experience cases. By simply asking them, you will find details about their practice experience. An attorney with more experience could be more beneficial, but only if your situation, as well as your budget, suits their experience. If they interact well, and most of all, if they can help you, you can ask the lawyer questions that will give you insight into the kind of experience they have.

• Cost

Legal advice is quite costly. You must know your lawyer fees. Collect an estimate from your Advocate based on your legal needs. Do not be hesitant to discuss the fee structure. It enables you to plan your legal costs. In the end, when you're choosing an attorney, the expense will be a factor. It is up to you how much you are willing to pay. By asking the lawyer for a quote, as well as how they bill their clients, you will collect more details beforehand. It could be an hourly charge, a flat rate, a fee for contingency, a negotiable fee, etc. Besides, lawyer feed will be based on a variety of variables, such as the sum of appearances, motions, etc. The simple consulting or reading charge, irrespective of such complexity, will help decide the lawyer's cost or fee structure. 

Find out even if costs (such as mailing, filing, and travel) are included in the fee since these expenses are not necessarily considered the same and should be paid separately.

Shop around and ask the same questions if you are not happy with the quote or the cost does not suit your budget. When you decide on an attorney, please make sure that the terms of cost are straightforward and that you are not afraid to talk about price, so there are no surprises. In a formal agreement, you can also want to clarify all expenses. 

• Availability

Is there enough time for the lawyer you want to employ to commit to your case? What's their caseload like? Will they automatically take on your case? If you plan on being in touch with the attorney regularly, these are relevant questions to ask. Consider looking for someone else who has the time to cater to your needs if they seem to be overworked.

• Communication

Communication is the most important thing in any relationship, whether it is personal or professional. If you are not able to communicate with your attorney, it will directly become a hindrance in your case. Will you need to see how the solicitor deals with his or her clients? If you have a question, how do you contact them? What is the answer time like for them? As it's common that every Advocate will most likely be handling several cases at a time, but your case is a priority for you, and you need to make sure the attorney you hire recognizes this and communicates with you promptly.

With compatibility and availability, contact goes hand in hand. Sometimes, there may be a tendency to fall out of touch between paperwork and meetings. In the beginning, try to develop proactive contact. Mention your favourite contact type and chat about your hours, so both of you are on the same page. Missed meetings or phone calls will avoid this. To discuss updates and ask questions, agree on periodic check-in times.

A good lawyer should also take the time to clarify complex matters, provide you with simple advice in your chosen language about your situation, and provide you with a variety of options or alternatives to consider before agreeing on an action plan.

If you are hiring an advocate from a different state, then ensure the communication points with him as well. 

Conclusion

Choosing an attorney for a long term or maybe the short term is of paramount importance. How your case is presented in a court it all depends on your attorney. Your chances of winning or losing a case also depend upon your attorney. So above mentioned points are very basic points that need to be kept in mind, but there are many more factors that you can render to while choosing an attorney.