Are you thinking about hiring an attorney? Whether you’re hiring an attorney to handle a personal injury claim or settle your divorce, you need to make sure you do your research before hiring.
When conducting research, one of the most important things to do is to meet with each attorney and ask the right questions. What questions do you need to ask?
Check out this guide to discover the top questions to ask an attorney before hiring.
- How Long Have You Practiced Law?
One of the most important questions to ask an attorney is how long they’ve been practicing law. Before hiring, it’s very important to understand the lawyer’s expertise and whether or not they’re a beginning attorney or veteran.
When learning about the lawyer’s experience, you don’t just want to ask them about how many years they’ve been in the business. You also want to make sure you ask the lawyer if they have experience handling a case similar to yours.
Just because a lawyer has years of experience in general, doesn’t mean they have experience with your specific type of case. If you’re facing sex charges, rape lawyers or sexual abuse lawyers would be ideal to help you out. Make sure to be upfront about this.
You also want to make sure the lawyer you hire has experience working in the courtroom where your case will preside. If a lawyer knows the judges and prosecutors involved in the case, it’ll greater increase their ability to evaluate the likely outcomes of your case and give you the advice you can rely on.
- How Will We Communicate?
It’s very important that you hire a lawyer who will communicate with you openly and honestly.
When meeting with an attorney, you should ask them about their communication style. Will they be calling you to check-in, or will they be sending emails?
Also, make sure you hire a lawyer who will be communicating with you directly, and won’t just be sending you messages through legal secretaries.
- How Will I Be Charged?
Before you hire an attorney, it’s also crucial to understand how you’ll be charged. It’s no secret that hiring an attorney can be quite expensive, so it’s vital that you have a clear understanding of what type of financial commitment you’re getting yourself into.
In some cases, lawyers charge you a fixed amount, while in other scenarios, lawyers charge by the hour. In instances where you’re suing for monetary damages, your lawyer will likely charge a contingency fee.
This means that should your settlement be successful, your lawyer will receive a portion of your winnings. Typically, this will be one-third of your settlement, although amounts vary.
You’ll also want to make sure you ask the attorneys you interview what fees you’ll be responsible for. Lawyer’s expenses can include everything from small fees like photocopying to large fees like bringing in expert witnesses.
For these fees, your lawyer typically won’t be able to give you a precise quote. However, they should be able to give you a ballpark figure.
- Who is Will Be Working on My Case?
Typically, lawyers are a part of a law firm with paralegals and junior associates. It’s quite common for lawyers to delegate tasks to these employees. Oftentimes, this will help save you money, as these individuals are paid at a lower rate.
Before hiring an attorney, make sure you ask about who will be working on your case and in what capacity. While it’s fine for your lawyer to delegate some tasks, you still want to make sure that they’ll be involved in every aspect of your case.
By asking these questions, it’ll be easier for you to find the right attorney! Comment below if you have any questions!
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