Attorneys specializing in certain disciplines removes some anxiety from the due diligence process and adds clarity to your search. We’ll start there.
Know Your Type
What are you going to court for? Know the type of attorney you need to benefit from their services. The great secret of seeking law counsel is using specialization to your advantage. A personal injury lawyer would likely do a poor job defending sometime in a divorce trial. If you need a DUI attorney don’t look at bankruptcy lawyers. This may sound painfully obvious but some people in their haste hire a lawyer outside of their area of expertise. Stick to your niche to pick a skilled attorney for your court case.
Pore over Feedback from Clients
Why not listen to prior clients to better understand your prospective attorney? Reading over client reviews gives you a glimpse into how a lawyer may best help you. Or perhaps you’ll receive a red warning flag to “stay away” after digesting a not so glowing client testimonial. Word of mouth marketing reigns as the most convincing form of advertising on the planet. Learn more about your lawyer by cashing in on the experience of others. Receiving a subjective opinion on the attorney can push you to hire them or move on if you need a little extra push.
Prepare for an In Person Meet
Do your homework before meeting with the lawyer for the first time. List out on a piece of paper each of the basic questions you need to ask for getting a better understanding of the lawyer. Most people are ridiculously unprepared for their first meeting. Don’t make this mistake. Build a stronger partnership, save yourself legal fees and accelerate the bond-building process by asking a few basic questions on your first meeting to get the ball rolling.
Ask questions about legal fees before or after the trial, their experience with similar cases and the strength of your case. Peppering lawyers with questions displays that you’re a serious client who deserves their respect, time and energy.
Work References
Checking references gives you confidence in the lawyer’s training and abilities. After reading client reviews consider diving in to the attorney’s disciplinary records, achievements, background information and experience to gain a better understanding of their history. Dig up as much dirt as possible to make an informed decision. Be patient. Finding the facts may take some leg work but this is time well spent. Check out where the lawyer received their undergrad degree, when they passed the bar and how many successful cases they’ve tried before spending your hard earned money on an attorney.
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