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Sep 09, 2019 · There are many ways to find a reliable lawyer. One of the best is a recommendation from a trusted friend, relative, or business associate. Be aware, however, that each legal case is different and that a lawyer who is right for someone else may not suit you or your legal problem. Are advertisements a good place to look for a lawyer?
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One way to get a feel for an attorney’s practice is to be observant when you go for your first consultation.
The foundation of every civil lawsuit starts with an injury or a loss. Defining the nature of the injury or loss sets the lawsuit’s course. Find out how to identify your injury or loss and look at the broader context of a lawsuit.
The terms "lawyer" and "attorney" have a lot in common, but not all lawyers are attorneys.
Although an attorney isn’t always necessary when dealing with legal situations, if you’ve decided you want to hire a lawyer, you may now be wondering how you go about finding a good one. Before you begin your search to find a lawyer, remember there are different types of lawyers, from estate planning to criminal defense.
Here are a few other sources you can turn to for possible candidates in your search for a lawyer: 1 The director of your state or local chamber of commerce may be a good source of business lawyers. 2 The director of a nonprofit group interested in the subject matter that underlies your lawsuit is sure to know lawyers who work in that area. For example, if your dispute involves trying to stop a major new subdivision, it would make sense to consult an environmental group committed to fighting urban sprawl. 3 A law librarian can help identify authors in your state who have written books or articles on a particular subject -- for example, construction law. 4 A women's or men's support group will probably have a list of well-regarded family and divorce lawyers.
Many sites, including Nolo.com, offer a way to connect with local lawyers based on your location and the type of legal case you have. You answer a few questions about your case and your contact information, then the right type of lawyers contact you directly. Talk to a local lawyer.
Nolo offers a unique lawyer directory that provides a comprehensive profile for each attorney with information that will help you select the right attorney. The profiles tell you about the lawyer's experience, education, and fees, and perhaps most importantly, the lawyer's general philosophy of practicing law.
A better approach is to talk to people in your community who have experienced the same problem you face -- for example, if you have a claim of sexual harassment, talk to a women's group. Ask them who their lawyers were and what they think of them. If you talk to half a dozen people who have had a similar legal problem, chances are you'll come away with several good leads.
Lawyers, of course, are prime sources of this information, but if you bought all the needed information at their rates -- $150 to $450 an hour -- you'd quickly empty your bank account.
A law librarian can help identify authors in your state who have written books or articles on a particular subject -- for example, construction law. A women's or men's support group will probably have a list of well-regarded family and divorce lawyers.
Fortunately, many lawyers will work with you to help you acquire a good working knowledge of the legal principles and procedures you need to deal with your problem at least partly on your own. If you are hoping to represent yourself and use a lawyer only for advice, make sure the lawyer is open to that type of set-up.
Location is an important factor in looking for a lawyer to represent you. Since your issue will likely depend on state or local laws and regulations, you will want an attorney who understands the regulations for your location. On the practical side, you will also want a lawyer who has an office that is convenient for you to travel to. Some lawyers are willing to travel to meet you, but may also charge for travel time. It’s usually a good idea to find a lawyer located in your geographical area. Besides legal knowledge of state and local laws, lawyers also have practical local knowledge. Lawyers in specific cities or towns will also have connections to helpful agencies in that city, which will expedite the process of resolving your issue.
Does the lawyer you are considering hiring accept (and respond to) communication via email? Will they respond if you send a text? Make sure they respond promptly (within 24 hours) to your initial inquiries-- you don’t want to hire a lawyer who won’t return your calls or avoids prompt communication about your case.
Hourly Rate: Lawyers often charge an agreed-upon hourly rate for their work, and the work of their assistants. The hourly rate applies to both face-to-face consultations and behind-the-scenes work on your case. A good lawyer will usually be able to estimate the required number of hours per case in advance.
Avvo attorneys handle cases in over 120 practice areas, including divorce, criminal defense, and bankruptcy.
Understanding a lawyer’s previous experience is essential to understanding how they can handle your case. You’ll want to ask how many years the lawyer has been practicing. A lack of experience doesn’t necessarily make for a bad lawyer, though, especially if they have experienced lawyers around them.
Lawyers are also important partners in situations that don’t involve the courtroom, advising clients about their legal rights and obligations for personal or business issues. They are trained to interpret complicated systems of laws and navigate the court system.
It’s especially important to understand a potential lawyer’s availability. Will they be going on a three-week vacation in the middle of your case? Do they take phone calls after business hours? Do their legal assistants have a way to contact them if they are not in the office? You should have a good sense of how and when your lawyer will be available to communicate with you.
Within 24 hours , your case is reviewed, evaluated, and when a lawyer is interested in taking your case, you'll receive a full attorney profile and their background information.
Within a few hours after you submit your case, you may receive responses from local attorneys by phone or email. We recommend waiting a day or two to allow the majority of attorneys to review your case thoroughly. Then, it's up to you to select the right lawyer near you based on the responses you receive and the legal qualifications you're looking for.
Lawyer star ratings and reviews show previous customer experiences with each attorney and allow you to properly evaluate their strengths and weaknesses
Our online law library has over 10,000 articles that can help guide you in the right direction to resolve your legal issue. Our legal experts have provided clear insights and detailed information that will help you settle your legal problems quickly without a heavy financial burden.
There is never any obligation to hire or contact a lawyer through our service - you decide if and when you contact an attorney
All member lawyers are pre-screened and in good standing with their state's bar associations
Contact your local bar association for qualified attorneys in your area. State bar associations keep public records about complaints and disciplinary actions taken against attorneys licensed to practice in the state. Most local bar associations also have free referral services that can help you find an attorney to suit your case's needs.
Get referrals and recommendations from friends and family. Talk to friends and family members who used an attorney. Find out who they hired, for what type of service, if they were happy with the services, and why or why not. Ask if they would recommend the attorney.
Remember that you are interviewing the attorney for a job. Treat your meeting as such, a job interview. If you feel as though the attorney isn't listening to you or isn't answering your questions, pick a different attorney.
Personal injury law. Personal injury attorneys handle cases involving medical malpractice, dog bites, car accidents and any injury to a person that may be the fault of another.
If the attorney makes you uncomfortable in any way, you should choose someone different to represent you.
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Trusts and estates. This type of lawyer deals with issues such as estate planning, qualifying for Medicaid, probating an estate, and obtaining guardianship of an elderly parent or grandparent.
Before searching in any database, you'll need to know: 1 your topic and any relevant keywords 2 which jurisdiction applies to your legal problem 3 which types of primary law apply to your topic, including federal and state statutes or regulations (see the Find Case Law from Statutes or Regulations page for more ideas)
To filter results by a particular jurisdiction, you may either (a) select the court (s) of interest by choosing them in the "Search:" dropdown box, or, (b) by running a search and then filtering the results.
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While you may use natural language searching in any of the legal databases, searching by terms and connectors yields more specific results based on your terms' relationship with each other - such as if you'd like the terms to appear in the same sentence or paragraph. These operators differ slightly in each database, so see the subsequent boxes that will explain how to best conduct a search in each.
If you are unable to find an attorney whom you can afford, then you may ask the judge put you on a list that may allow you to obtain an attorney who will represent you for free. Your records will be helpful to the Court should you ever make such a request.
Experienced legal counsel familiar with the law and rules of procedures can greatly increase your chances of successfully resolving your case. Ask your family, friends, and associates for the names of attorneys with whom they are pleased. A word of mouth recommendation is invaluable.
An attorney who represents pro se litigants for free is called a pro bono attorney. To apply for a pro bono attorney, you must: file an application with a supporting request to proceed in forma pauperis in a case already pending in the Court.
It is within the judge’s discretion, based on factors set forth in the statute and case law, either to grant or deny the appointment of habeas counsel. If the judge grants the application, an attorney will be appointed from the Court’s Criminal Justice Act’s (CJA) Panel.
Telephone books also have listings for attorneys, but are generally not the best way to find an attorney because they typically only provide the name and contact information for attorneys. Remember to keep detailed records of your efforts to find an attorney.
It is within the judge’s discretion, based on factors set forth in the case law, to either grant or deny your application for the Judge to request the appointment of pro bono counsel. If the judge grants the application, there is no guarantee that an attorney will volunteer to take the case. If no attorney volunteers to take the case, you must proceed without one.
State bar associations are also good resources for finding lawyers who practice in the field in which you require assistance. Online resources can be another good source, and many such resources have the added benefit of offering consumer reviews, so you can see how other people have rated their interactions with a particular attorney.
The legal team. Some lawyers work by themselves, while others have paralegals on their team or outsource some of the legal work to other lawyers. You want to make sure you know who will be handling your file, as this can have an impact on both the quality of the service you receive and the cost. Communication.