Hiring a Lawyer

"When you need a lawyer, Get a good one." That's what people say, isn't it?

Your friends, your family, yourself.

But how does one go about getting a good lawyer.

REPUTATION? Sure, the well-known lawyers are busy or expensive or both. They are that way because they are good at what they do, or so it is believed. Remember a reputation is a rumor. Make an appointment, meet with your attorney, and ask some questions. EXPERIENCE? Experienced lawyers are good to have and in certain types of law experience is essential. But there are few places to check experience. The best source is a personal interview. Make an appointment, meet with your attorney, and ask some questions. REFERRAL? A great method of choice, perhaps the best method, but when you make the appointment and meet the attorney, keep an open critical mind.

There is no sure way to choose, and even when you choose, remember that there are no guarantees. That is a problem with life. It has nothing to do with law.

The reason you are seeing a lawyer is usually about a problem. If it is serious enough, take your time and interview the lawyer. Ask direct questions. You don't need to know the answers specifically. The answers may be of slight importance for the interview. Judge the lawyer's responsiveness, and openness. Judge the lawyer's surroundings, the organization of the office, the staff. Judge the lawyer as you would anyone else; do you believe what the lawyer tells you? Do you trust the lawyer? Are you comfortable with the lawyer? Interview another if you have the time. Take someone with you on the interview. Large business entities do this, why shouldn't you? Finally, trust your instincts and then choose. It is important, but it is not an irreversible commitment.

Remember the lawyer works for you. You are the client but you are ultimately in charge. Expect performance in a reasonable and timely manner, expect responses to your questions and your telephone calls and letters, and expect to be informed of progress. To get that you, the client, must periodically ask for information.

HOW DO YOU SELECT A LAWYER?

It will help to have a well defined problem. Select a lawyer that has some interest in the type of problem that you have, or an interest in you, or some knowledge of the circumstances. Select a lawyer with whom you are comfortable and acts the way you would expect i.e. he/she answers your questions, returns your phone calls, keeps appointments, shows up in court on time, and appears to be prepared for the situations as they arise. All of us have violated these things a time or two, but if it is repeated, it should be a warning. If something does not seem right to you ask a question about it. Understand you are entitled to logical and full explanations. Understand your fee arrangement with the lawyer, and finally, MAKE SURE THE LAWYER HAS PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE.

There is no "best" lawyer or "toughest" lawyer. There are lawyers who do their job, represent you zealously, and use the skill, care, and learning ordinarily used by members of the profession. This is the type of lawyer you need, one who does the job.

Finally expect to pay for the service you receive. The only lawyers I know of who are not very good are lawyers, on a regular basis, are the ones who do not set appropriate fees, clear fees.