If you are looking to hire a lawyer, the chances are high that you are already facing a rather stressful situation.
This does not mean that you should pick the first lawyer that you find.
Finding the right lawyer for your case is very important.
Here are some things to consider when looking for a lawyer.
Specialist Knowledge
Almost all lawyers are specialists to some degree. Their specialism is a good indicator of how good they will be in certain cases.
For instance, criminal defense lawyers are rather useless at pursuing civil lawsuit cases.
Make sure to hire a lawyer specializing in the kind of case you need to prosecute or defend. Established firms like WRG lawyers will have different teams of specialists for each area of law.
You want to hire a lawyer with the deepest well of knowledge about your particular situation. You would also want a lawyer within your state. For example if you are from California, it’s advisable to seek legal advice in California.
Related Experience
Take some time to look into the case history of the lawyers you are considering.
If a lawyer has never taken on and won a case similar to your own, you should not consider hiring them.
Don’t take a chance on a first-timer! Every lawyer signed to the state bar has a state bar record.
This will record their previous cases and is usually a good place to start when seeking to understand a lawyer’s experience.
Good Character
In a long criminal or civil case, you will be spending a lot of time with your legal counsel.
Make sure that you and your lawyer have attitudes that link up.
The character of a lawyer is very important. They need to be hard-working, understanding, and willing to discuss options with you on an equal footing.
Competitive Fees
Some lawyers can charge ridiculous fees for services that are by no means extraordinary.
Make sure that your future lawyer is willing to fully itemize all of their services so that you can work out if they offer good value for money.
If you doubt whether a lawyer is offering good value for money, check out the average prices of their competition.
Many lawyers offer their services on a ‘no win – no fee’ basis.
This means that they only charge when compensatory money has been paid to the party that they are representing.
This kind of model is not common in criminal law but near-ubiquitous in the civil lawsuit arena.
Transparency
A good lawyer is transparent and honest about your chances of success during a case.
The best lawyers, like those working at the law offices of Robert Tsigler, will never sell you dreams of unrealistic success.
In criminal defense cases, a lawyer will always inform their client of the likelihood they will receive a punishment, making them super transparent.
Good Reviews
Before signing anything with a lawyer, make sure to check out reviews of their practice left by previous clients.
The ubiquity of the internet has made seeking out client reviews easier than ever before.
The Justia Lawyer Directory is a resource for consumers looking to check out client reviews to make good decisions when choosing legal counsel.