what question would you ask a lawyer

Questions to ask a lawyer 1. How long have you practiced law? 2. What type of cases do you generally handle? What percentage of your practice is devoted to (the practice area in question)?

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What are good questions to ask an attorney?

Ask the lawyer A number of questions arise: Can you show the tenant’s demand ... Do you know the expression “no good deed goes unpunished”? Bottom line: Consultation with counsel here also is advisable. Is the tenant’s conduct a breach of the ...

What should I ask before hiring an attorney?

• medical malpractice
• car accidents
• animal bites
• slip and fall
• products liability
• defamation, and
• assault and battery

What questions do lawyers ask their clients?

Some relevant questions to ask include:

• Do you have time to represent me?
• Are there other criminal defense attorneys in your office who will work on my case? May I meet them?
• When I have questions, whom should I call? How do you prefer to be contacted? How quickly should I expect a reply?

How do I Ask an attorney a question?

For the rest of you, here are my thoughts on this subject:

1. Real mentors see themselves as teachers whose job is to teach their associates how to practice law properly.
2. Those ‘mentors’ who loudly proclaim that they believe in the ‘sink or swim’ method and are vehemently opposed to ‘holding the hand’ of their juniors are full of crap. ...
3. People do not learn to practice law in law school. ...

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What are some questions you should ask a lawyer?

Questions to Ask Your Lawyer During a Consultation1) What kind of experience do you have with similar cases?2) What would be your strategy for my case?3) Are there any alternatives to going to court?4) What are my possible outcomes?5) Who will actually handle my case?6) What is my role in my case?More items...•

What are 3 questions you should ask a lawyer before hiring?

6 Questions To Ask Before You Hire A LawyerWhat's Your Experience? ... What Percentage Of Your Practice Is Dedicated To This Area Of Law? ... What Will This Cost? ... Can You Charge Me A Flat-Rate Fee? ... Where's My Contract? ... Can I Avoid Going To Court?

What is the hardest question to ask a lawyer?

12 Tough Questions to Ask a LawyerWhat's your opinion of the probate process?Under what conditions do you recommend a Living Trust?How do I protect my children from abusive relatives if something happens to me?Can I keep my kids from controlling their entire inheritance at 18?More items...•

How do you ask a question like a lawyer?

0:135:25How to ask questions like a lawyer - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe first secret is that what we're doing we're not really asking questions what we're doing isMoreThe first secret is that what we're doing we're not really asking questions what we're doing is making statements. That sound like questions and those are statements that the witness.

What questions should I ask in a legal interview?

Are you willing to make sacrifices for this company?What role do you tend to play in a team?Describe your ability to work under pressure.If you were hiring a manager for this job, what would you look for?Do you have any questions for me?Tell me a little about yourself.What area of law most interests you.

What questions should I ask my lawyer mentor?

Questions to Ask Your Mentor How is what I am learning in school different from what it will be like practicing? How did you become a [insert practice area] attorney? What is a typical work day like for you? What types of cases/projects are you currently working on?

What is a good question to ask a judge?

Good questions to ask the judge include the following: “How do you like being a judge?” “How did you decide to become a judge?” “What was the most important thing that helped you become a judge?”

How do you approach a lawyer?

Tips for Talking to an AttorneyAlways be as honest and candid as possible about the facts of your case. ... Ask questions if you don't understand something that your attorney mentions or explains to you.Approach an attorney about your case as soon as you think you may need one.More items...•

What questions should I ask a corporate lawyer?

General QuestionsHow long have you been practicing law?What do you specialize in?What are your main roles and duties? What goes beyond that scope?How do you bill?What companies do you generally work with? ... Are you experienced with startups?Are you familiar with the laws of incorporation in my specific state?

What are the 5 types of questions?

Factual; Convergent; Divergent; Evaluative; and CombinationFactual - Soliciting reasonably simple, straight forward answers based on obvious facts or awareness. ... Convergent - Answers to these types of questions are usually within a very finite range of acceptable accuracy.More items...

What are all the types of questions?

In English, there are four types of questions: general or yes/no questions, special questions using wh-words, choice questions, and disjunctive or tag/tail questions. Each of these different types of questions is used commonly in English, and to give the correct answer to each you'll need to be able to be prepared.

What are the 5 questioning techniques?

We'll also cover when to use each one, and how they work.#1 Open-ended versus closed-ended questioning.#2 Funnel questioning.#3 Asking probing questions.#4 Asking leading questions.#5 Asking rhetorical questions.

1. How long have you practiced law?

At a minimum, you'll want to know about the lawyer's expertise and whether the lawyer is a veteran or beginner attorney, for instance. Your legal issue may very well be handled by someone who is fresh out of law school, (or not). It all depends.

2. What type of cases do you generally handle? What percentage of your practice is devoted to (the practice area in question)?

You'll also want to know about a lawyer's expertise and how much of the attorney's practice is devoted to topic area your legal issue falls within. For example, if you need help with an adoption case, you may wish to seek a family law lawyer who has worked on, well, adoption cases. Click here for a full list of practice area definitions.

3. Who is your typical client?

This is an important, but often-overlooked question. For example, if you are an individual with a particular legal problem, but the attorney your meeting with represents only corporations, this may not be the best lawyer for you. Likewise, you may wish to know the financial background of some of the lawyer's clients.

4. How many cases have you represented that were similar to mine?

Now is not the time to act shy. Feel free to ask about the attorney's track record, such as the number of cases won or settled, for example.

5. Other than a law degree, what kind of special training or knowledge do you have that might apply in my situation?

Some cases, like DUI and patent cases, require specialized training and knowledge for effective representation. Be sure to inquire whether your case fits into that category.

6. What are your attorney fees and costs, and how are they billed? Will a portion or all of my case be handled by paralegals or legal assistants? If so, ask about reduced costs

This step is obviously an important one. You'll want to know whether you can afford the lawyer's services and how you will be required to pay. This is also the time to ask about payment options and how often, and under what circumstances, you will be billed.

7. What is your approach or philosophy to winning or representing a case?

This can be important in two ways. First, if you are seeking an amicable divorce, for example, but the attorney is known to "go for the kill" in divorce cases, the attorney may not be the right one for you.

What is the point of consultation?

Consultations with a lawyer are an important stage of the process: you’re meeting up with an attorney for the first time on a case that could have a significant impact on you and your loved ones. You’ll want to make sure you’re dealing with a true professional. If not, you move on. That’s the point of the consultation.

Can you arrange things out of court without an attorney?

In the legal industry, there a variety of processes moving forward. Sometimes an arbitrator would be suitable. You can arrange things out of court without the need for an attorney, too. And the reason for asking is that you might have considerably less cost to worry about. 9.

What to ask a lawyer about his or her career?

It's also a good idea to ask the lawyer about his or her legal career. It's good to know how many years the attorney has practiced law, and what type of cases the attorney generally handles. It would also be helpful to know who the lawyer's typical client is. For example, if a lawyer usually works with businesses and you're an individual, ...

Why is it important to interview a lawyer?

Interviewing a Lawyer. It's important to interview the lawyer you want to hire to help you with your legal matter.

Why is it important to know what you will be billed for and what payment options the lawyer provides?

This is an important question because it will allow you to determine if you can afford the lawyer' s services. It's also a good idea to ask the lawyer about his or her legal career. It's good to know how many years the attorney has practiced law, ...

What are the requirements to become a lawyer?

The first two steps to becoming a lawyer are earning a bachelor's degree (or its equivalent) and taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Then, the person must attend and graduate from law school. There are some states that have legal ...

What is the purpose of the law test?

The test involves multiple choice questions and essays on various areas of law meant to test a person's understanding of the law and capacity for logical thought. In addition to the requirements mentioned above, a person must also pass a moral character and fitness test.

What is an attorney who can answer this question well?

An attorney who can answer this question well is an attorney who is attuned not only to the legal challenges at hand, but also to the way clients think about them. They’ve also likely worked with clients like you. They’ll be able to provide context upfront that answers your questions before you find yourself confused by a complex legal issue or legal language.

Is it difficult to get a complete picture of someone's personality?

No matter who you’re interviewing, it’s difficult to gain a complete picture of someone’s capabilities and personality over the course of an interview. This difficulty is compounded when you’re someone without a legal background who’s interviewing an attorney.

Do you want to hire an attorney who will challenge you?

While you don’t want to hire an attorney who will challenge your every move, you also definitely don’t want one who is so afraid of getting fired that they’re reluctant to question you when they have a legitimate concern.

Do attorneys have conflicts of interest?

Attorneys are responsible for divulging any potential conflicts of interest, even if they are never directly asked a question about them. However, it’s usually not a bad idea to inquire about them yourself.

Do businesspeople have to resign themselves to pick the first attorney on their resume?

The good news is that businesspeople definitely don’t have to resign themselves to picking the first attorney whose resume crosses their desk.

Can an attorney give an estimate of how long each phase of a project will take?

Although unexpected challenges sometimes arise and cause deadlines to be pushed back, attorneys should be able to give an estimate of how long each phase of the project will take. Make sure that these estimates seem reasonable and fit with the timeline that you have in mind.

Do attorneys quote hourly fees?

While most attorneys will quote you an hourly rate or a fixed fee upfront, it’s important that you understand what this quote does and does not cover. For instance, will you also be responsible for reimbursing the attorney for expenses, such as transportation?

What does a lawyer need to know?

Your lawyer needs to know the results you desire at the end of the suit. It helps them to work towards attaining them. For instance, if you want monetary compensation for something terrible that was done to you, let them know. Do not forget to tell them the amount you think would be enough for you.

Do lawyers want to know your case?

A lawyer will want to know every single detail of your case. This includes the circumstances that forced you to file the suit. When answering this question, be as honest as possible. Do not withhold any important information from your attorney. It will increase your chances of winning in court.

Can a lawyer negotiate with a client?

You can even ask them to lower them for your convenience. Most lawyers have no problem negotiating with their clients. These are some of the many questions that your attorney might ask you during your first meeting. Be as genuine as possible because it will lay a solid foundation for your working relationship.