Need a lawyer? Who do you get?
Most of the time when someone needs a lawyer, they don’t know who to call. No, Ghostbusters, is not the right answer! Although sometimes by the lawyer commercials on TV, you wonder if the concept is not the same for some lawyers. People don’t often give hiring a lawyer the time and attention it needs due to time pressures or money issues. No matter whether you need a lawyer now or have time to make a choice the same principles should guide you in your decision.
Ask around for referrals. If you know someone who has experienced the same legal troubles as you, ask them who they used and what their experience was like. Sometimes this is how you can determine not only who may be good for your case, but also who would not be good for your case.
Make appointments and talk to a couple of lawyers to see who you most feel comfortable with. Lawyers are like doctors. You are sharing important and, sometimes, intimate details, with the lawyer and you must feel comfortable about it. You also need to have confidence that the lawyer will handle your case effectively and the way you would like to have it handled. If the lawyer will not listen to you in the initial consultation, then he or she is likely not to listen to you later. You have to take advice from the lawyer so make sure you feel the lawyer is someone you can trust to tell you straight and guide you to a conclusion. Who you believe you will get along with is important and should be a major factor in your decision making.
What is the charge? It would be nice if money was not a factor in the decision, but it is. Sometimes you just can’t afford that high dollar lawyer. But sometimes you have to extend yourself to be able to get the right person for the job and not waste money. It’s just like buying anything else. If you get a cheap brand of anything, you may get by but in the end you may spend more money trying to replace or fix what the cheap fix did. It is the same with legal cases. Lawyers should base their fees on years of experience, expertise in the area and how much it costs to keep the lights on in the office. While you don’t need a machete to butter your bread, you don’t need a butter knife to cut a tree. Match the expertise and charge to the situation.
Don’t feel like you have to hire the first lawyer you talk to. If you need to time to think about it, think about it. There is an old adage: if it is a good idea today, it will be a good idea tomorrow. Once you have had time to reflect, you will feel more confident in your decision, which will make the whole process easier. Sometimes you will see error in your thoughts and can avoid making a wrong choice.
While these are broad overviews of some intricate concepts in the decision-making process, use these as a way to keep from making a hasty decision that could cause you more problems later on. Just as you would not want to change surgeons mid-surgery, you would not want to change lawyers mid-lawsuit. Remember your legal issue is a very important thing and could radically affect how you live, operate your business, or maintain your freedom. Take the time to ask the questions and be responsible for your own case.
Palmour Law Firm never charges consultation fees. Feel free to come see us about your legal problem.