You want to find a lawyer whom you trust and with whom you can have a long-term relationship. You want to work with someone who understands your particular legal concerns. While there are many lawyers to choose from, you can find the right lawyer for you and for your situation if you approach the search with some diligence.
Firstly, you'll want to hire a lawyer with experience in the type of matter for which you are seeking help.
Some situations are routinely handled by lawyers who specialize in one area. Common specializations include
workers compensation attorneys; immigration attorneys; patent attorneys; and tax attorneys.
Once you've decided which type of lawyer you need, pick several and begin your selection process. Contact each attorney and describe your legal issue and find out if the attorney handles your specific situation. Ask whether the attorney will charge you for an initial consultation (most attorneys do not charge a fee for initial consultations). Also, ask what the attorney usually charges to handle your kind of case.
Attorney's fees are usually determined by the amount of time your case will take, the difficulty of your case, the lawyer's experience and the result obtained. There are two common fee arrangements for business lawyers.
- Hourly Fees—Lawyers often charge an hourly rate for the time they spend on a case.
- Fixed Fees—Some lawyers will charge a flat fee set in advance. This is particularly common for simple, easy-to-define matters such as wills, with the advantage of knowing your legal fees in advance.
The initial consultation is an opportunity for you and the lawyer to get to know each other. After listening to the description of your case, the lawyer should be able to outline your rights and liabilities as well as alternative courses of action. The initial consultation is the lawyer's opportunity to explain what he or she can do for you and how much it will cost. You should not hesitate to ask about the attorney's experience in handling matters such as yours. Also, do not hesitate to ask about the lawyer's fees and the likely results. If you are considering going beyond the initial consultation and hiring the lawyer, ask for a written fee agreement before going further.
After your initial consultation with each prospective lawyer, ask yourself these questions:
- Did the lawyer listen to me?
- Was I treated with concern?
- Was the lawyer knowledgeable?
- Did the lawyer give me a firm understanding of my alternative courses of action?
- Do I understand the range of possible results associated with each course of action?
- Am I clear about the lawyer's fees?
- Does the lawyer require a retainer? If so, how much?
- How are extra costs (i.e. filing fees, serving papers, photocopying) dealt with?
Once you have answered these questions, you should be able to rank the lawyers and make an informed decision.
