With a quick internet search, you will undoubtedly find dozens of attorneys for your case in your area. Some of them might be in small firms, while others in medium or big firms.
However, the size of the firm doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is the experience of the lawyer who will work your case and the competence of their team. Even if the head lawyer is amazing, who is to say they won’t simply put one of their juniors on the case?
That’s why you need to find the right lawyer to handle your case. To help you find the best lawyer, here are a few tips you can use.
Research Online
The first thing you should do is look up your case online. Just describe it in a short way and try to see what type of lawyer will be the best for your case.
Sometimes, the case can be pretty simple and you might easily know what lawyer you need. For instance, you get in a car crash and you call an automobile accident lawyer.
But, the case can sometimes become complex. Using the same example, you might need another lawyer if someone died on impact, you got charged with DUI, or the car crashed into someone’s property.
That’s why you should find out what type of lawyer you need for your case.
Ask Them Everything
Since you may not have any knowledge or experience with the law, you might not understand your case completely. That’s why it is natural that you may have a lot of questions.
Before you go to the immigration law, for instance, you should write down all the questions in your mind so you don’t forget anything. Also, think about any follow-ups you would like to ask.
Continuing the same example, you might ask your lawyer what details of your employment they need. If their answer is vague or raises extra questions in your head, don’t be afraid to ask no matter what it is because you need to find the right lawyer.
Understand the Fees
Many people hire a lawyer without properly understanding how they charge. This can not only lead to stress down the line, but you may have to fire your lawyer in the middle of the case if you can’t pay them.
That’s why you must understand their fees right from the start. Here are some of the common types:
- Retainer: You pay this fee to the lawyer upfront. It’s a way lawyers use to know their clients can afford them, and they also use the retainer to cover the expenses and fees for a certain amount of time.
- Contingency: With this, your lawyer is entitled to receive a percentage of the damages you’re awarded if you win the case.
- Hourly rate: Understandably, the hourly rate is what they charge for every hour they work on your case.
- Fixed-rate: These can be great because you know exactly how much to pay them
Extras: This would be the extra expenses, like courtroom fees, travel expenses, and other costs related to your case.
