With potentially hundreds of lawyers in your area, selecting someone to hire for your case can be an overwhelming task to take on. Since there are so many different kinds of lawyers, your unique set of circumstances will play a big role in finding the right lawyer.
If you’ve never been in litigation before, you may feel completely lost in the process. However, with a little preparation and persistence, you can find the right person for the job to give you legal counsel.
Here are some of the best tips to get you started on your search process.
Ask Around
Regardless of whether you’re looking for a lawyer or the best place to buy produce, recommendations are incredibly helpful. It’s all about knowing the right people to ask.
If someone you know has won a big settlement from getting in a car accident, they’re probably a great resource if you’ve just gotten in an accident yourself.
Ask your friends and family first, then move on to looking on review sites like Yelp. Do your research thoroughly to get a feel for the reputation of the lawyer you’re considering.
Create a Plan
Getting a lawyer isn’t enough. You should have an idea of what kind of outcome you’d like to play out. The only way that your lawyer is going to be able to help you is if you give clear guidelines of exactly what you need. You’ll know you’ve found a good lawyer when they are willing to listen to you and explain whether it’s possible or not.
By creating a plan and developing a goal with the end in sight, you’ll have a much more streamlined process.
Take Your Time Shopping Around
Before your final decision, take some time to review your candidates so that you know exactly what you’re getting into. You can explore their personal statement, any blog posts they’ve linked to, and any customer testimonials.
Meet In Person
Although life can get busy and email and telephones are incredibly convenient, it’s best to meet in person for the initial meeting. Since the lawyer you choose will be playing a role in making life-changing decisions for you, it’s critical that you have a good feeling about this person. One of the best ways to do that is to look them in the eyes.
Don’t be too shy to ask questions and interview them. If you’re considering paying this person a considerable amount of money it’s acceptable to ask them all of the questions that you need to ensure they’re the right person for the job.
Try to go into your interview with a list of things you want to ask to make sure that you don’t risk forgetting to ask important questions before making a choice.