How to Choose A Good Lawyer for Your Case

You’re facing a legal matter and you have thought about it carefully, and you have decided that you need a lawyer. Whether you’re facing a divorce, or you had a terrible accident that left you seriously injured, or someone has sued you for something you allegedly did, it is often possible to find the need for a lawyer. The problem is, how do you find one? Not only that, but once you find one, how do you know he or she is the right one? The purpose of this article is to provide tips when it’s time to hire a lawyer and to lead you through some of the most pertinent questions to ask while choosing one.  Do your homework, and you will be able to hire the best lawyer for your case; the one with the knowledge and experience you need to help you solve your legal problem.

Usually, people don’t have just one lawyer, and depending on the case, you need to do your search. But how do you know which one is right?

The easy answer to that question is up to you. Only you can answer those, so you have to be able to trust yourself, and trust your judgments. Keep in mind, the lawyer you choose will be helping you solve your legal problems, whatever they may be, so the most important quality to look for when deciding on a lawyer is the level of comfort you feel when dealing with them. You have to be comfortable enough to trust them with your deepest secrets and to deal with them completely and honestly. You have to be able to give them all facts necessary to resolve your legal problem. In reality, no single recommendation and no Google or Yelp review can tell you enough to guarantee that a particular lawyer will fit with you and make you trust them; you have to decide that for yourself.

Where Should I Start to Look for a Lawyer?

So, where do you start? There are actually a great many ways to begin your search for a reliable lawyer, but among the best is to seek a recommendation from someone you trust, like a friend, relative, or business associate, who has been through a situation like yours. Keep in mind, though; each individual case is different, with different circumstances, which means a lawyer who is right for someone else’s case may not be right for you or your legal problem.

Sometimes, advertisements can be a useful place to look for a lawyer, but you should be careful when it comes to believing everything you read and hear in an advertisement, whether it’s on radio, television, or the Internet.  While such ads can make you familiar with the names of certain lawyers and law firms, your research must continue, to discover if they are appropriate choices to meet your needs. These ads can make you familiar with the names of lawyers who may be appropriate for your legal needs. Some ads also will help you determine a lawyer’s area of expertise. Other ads will quote a fee or price range for handling a specific type of case.

Throughout your research, keep in mind that your case may not have a simple solution. If a lawyer quotes a fee, be certain you know exactly which services and expenses the charge includes, as well as what is not included.

Practical Considerations When Choosing a Lawyer

There are a number of practical considerations to keep in mind when choosing a lawyer. While the most important aspect of choosing a lawyer is your level of comfort with them, the lawyer’s prior experience and level of expertise with regard to your legal issues are also quite important. Many legal practice areas have set up their own certification programs, which are a help, plus several states, including Nevada, have established specialization programs to certify lawyers as specialists in their particular practice area.

You should ask each lawyer about the type of cases they usually handle, and what percentage of overall cases they practice in the specialty most related to your case. For instance, if they’re primarily a tax lawyer, but they handled a divorce once for a friend, they probably won’t be the best choice to handle your divorce. While most lawyers are not certified in a specialty, that does not necessarily mean a specific lawyer is not an expert in their chosen field of practice, particularly when a lawyer handles a high volume of cases in a particular practice area.

Other things to consider in choosing a lawyer for your case include the proximity and convenience of the location of the lawyer’s office, the fees charged, and how long they believe your case may take.

Are Referral Services Reliable?

Referral services can be a major part of getting you started. Besides the national lawyer referral services, like Avvo and Google, many, if not most, communities feature local referral services with a goal of helping people find lawyers. You might also be able to look use Google or another search engine for “Lawyer Referral Service” or something similar. Those types of services usually recommend a local lawyer in the area to evaluate a situation. Several services offer help to groups with unique characteristics, such as the elderly, immigrants, victims of domestic violence, or persons with a disability.

In most communities, bar associations can and usually will make referrals based on specific areas of law, helping you find a lawyer with the right experience and practice concentration. Many referral services also have competency requirements for lawyers who wish to have referrals in a particular area of law. You can find your local bar association through Google or another search engine, using the name of your state and “bar association.” The American Bar Association (ABA) website can also direct you to your local bar.

While referral services can be useful for a general search, they are not a surefire way to find the right lawyer for you or your case. In some cases, referral services make referrals without concern for the lawyer’s type or level of experience. You may want to seek out a lawyer referral service that participates in the American Bar Association-sponsored certification program, which uses a logo to identify lawyer referral programs that comply with certain quality standards developed by the ABA. For more information, check out https://rightlawyers.com/