A healthy attorney-client relationship is paramount when you’re involved in a legal dispute — and the results are more satisfactory for most clients who are actively involved in resolving their legal issues. You’ll find sufficient information here that will help you hire an attorney and work with him, from how to prep to how to pick the best lawyer.
Hiring a lawyer shouldn’t be super tough. All you have to do is go online and search for lawyers in your area. Simply type out the name of your area and what services you require, and you’ll have a comprehensive list of results you can use. For example, searching “Schenectady injury attorney” will get you a list of all lawyers in that area and more. Keep reading to find out how to pick the lawyer who will be optimal for your case.
Identify the Legal Problem
The first step in finding an attorney is understanding the problem or issue that you are facing. The law has many different specialties and subspecialties, and before you can accurately determine the best lawyer to represent you, you need to determine which type of lawyer is best suited for dealing with and solving your issue.
Consult with your general corporate lawyer or other trusted business advisor such as your accountant during this initial phase. To help you solve your problem choose a specialist. Today’s lawyers are as specialized as doctors. You wouldn’t have asked your internist to do open-heart surgery. Likewise, your general corporate lawyer should not be asked to handle a wage and hour audit or an OSHA inspection. Without charging you extra to be on the “cutting edge,” a specialist will know the latest developments and legal nuances applicable to your problem.
Check the Attorney’s Experience
One of the most critical criteria in selecting an attorney is the appropriate level of experience. You want your type of problem to be a lawyer with a track record of success. Such an experience record will increase the likelihood that the attorney will be able to help successfully solve your problem.
Obviously, length of service, number of cases in a particular specialty and geographical area and prior results are important issues to consider when evaluating the “experience” of the attorney. In addition to experience, knowledge of the adversaries and personalities involved in a case involves cumulative wisdom and perspective to assess risks and develop winning strategies related to a particular problem.
According to Attorney Kim Benjamin, the lawyer needs to have proper experience in the local areas and regions of where the case has been filed. Different states have different laws and having a proper understanding of local laws is essential. Most legal experts suggest hiring a lawyer that is familiar with working with local county courts and officials.
Make Sure the Attorney is a Good Communicator
Attorneys are paid to communicate in judgment of their cases with their opponents and those sitting in. However, just as important as finding an attorney who can communicate effectively with you. You want an attorney who anticipates your questions and keeps you up-to-date with developments in your case, without first calling.
When asked to make a decision or act, the lawyer needs to explain briefly the options available to you, the practical and legal advantages and disadvantages of the various courses of action and other matters relevant to your decision.
Once you have determined these three steps and applied them to a potential lawyer, you’re ready to make a decision!