Finding a great lawyer isn’t as easy as most people tend to think. When you have serious legal issues to deal with, that is when it dawns on you that finding a good lawyer is a daunting task. You will possibly require the services of a lawyer a couple of times in your lifetime.
The injury claim lawyer you hired five years ago isn’t the same attorney who should help you write your will. Depending on your case and your needs, you will need to find a different lawyer every time. Here are tips to help you select the best attorney.
Referrals from trusted sources
There are various places to look for an attorney who is respected due to a great track record of successful cases. Referrals are by far the easiest ways to find a great lawyer. Inquire from your workmates, friends and close family about any good lawyer they might have in mind.
Ensure that all these referrals are from close people that genuinely want to help you out. You may also have worked with an attorney who handles other types of legal issues but not necessarily what you have at hand.
Such a lawyer can be a good source of attorney referral if you could approach them. Like other professionals, lawyers have networks. You could easily land on the best lawyer in town with the help of another lawyer.
Contact your local attorney organization
Your local attorney organization has sufficient resources to help you find a lawyer suitable for the type of legal issues at hand. They have an endless list of search and referral tools that you could utilize at no costs.
You will have a complete listing of certified and practising lawyers from your area of residence. The resources will not give you an exact name to make a subjective decision on whether the lawyer has had a successful career in law, but it’s a great way to get you started.
Narrow down your potential targets
With a list of potential candidates for the job, you are now ready to narrow down your options. At this point, you will need to contact all attorneys from your gathered list, especially if you have their office numbers. Chances are that you will talk to their secretaries before getting the lawyers’ personal numbers.
If you find a lawyer who is quick to get in touch with, this is a good sign, and you should consider having him or her as your legal representative. Try to find an attorney who operates within your area to avoid unnecessary constraints. During the call, ask if the lawyer is available for a face to face interview and for how long. The faster the response, the better the services.
Set up a face to face interview
Face to face interviews is essential when looking for a great lawyer for your case. They give you a chance to have a feel of how it is like to work with the lawyer. If you don’t like their personality, you will probably have a hard time working with them.
Lawyers, on the other hand, like to gauge serious potential clients by their commitment through time sacrificed to meet them and talk about the case. Therefore, an interview will benefit both you and your potential attorney.
It also gives you a chance to ask all questions about your working relations, their work experience and success rates when handling cases. You could also ask for their client referrals to ascertain their professional credits.
These tips can help you find a great lawyer with experience and skills that your case demands. If you are in legal trouble, William Hanlon Criminal Defense Attorney in St Petersburg Florida can help you out.
