when looking for a lawyer, do you look at multiple ones?

by Luisa Bartell 5 min read

Many lawyers tend to focus only on one area, or several related areas of law. In your search for the right lawyer, you should look for a lawyer who understands and has experience in the specific area of law for your issue.

Full Answer

Do you have a regular lawyer?

Most people don't have a "regular" lawyer, in the sense that they have one or more doctors that they see at least annually. So how do you find the lawyer who's right for you?

How do I find a good lawyer?

Most communities have referral services to help people find lawyers. You might be able to find them under “Lawyer Referral Service” or something similar in your yellow pages. These services usually recommend a lawyer in the area to evaluate a situation.

What are the factors to consider when hiring a lawyer?

Other considerations are the convenience of the lawyer’s office location, fees charged, and the length of time a case may take. Where should I start to look for a lawyer? There are many ways to find a reliable lawyer.

How can I get a lawyer to refer me to someone?

You may want to seek out a lawyer referral service that participates in the American Bar Association-sponsored certification program, which uses a logo to identify lawyer referral programs that comply with certain quality standards developed by the ABA. My new job offers a prepaid legal services plan.

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Should you talk to multiple lawyers?

Yes. Your decision will be more informed if you consider several lawyers. Even if you think that you will be satisfied with the first lawyer you interview, you will feel better about your choice if you talk to several lawyers.

What should you not say to a lawyer?

Five things not to say to a lawyer (if you want them to take you..."The Judge is biased against me" Is it possible that the Judge is "biased" against you? ... "Everyone is out to get me" ... "It's the principle that counts" ... "I don't have the money to pay you" ... Waiting until after the fact.

What should you consider when hiring a lawyer?

5 Top Things to Consider When Hiring a LawyerSpecialization. The first thing you should consider when hiring an attorney is his or her area of specialization. ... Experience. Check the track record of the attorney before you hire. ... Location. ... Specifics about Billing and Representations. ... Ability To Convince You.

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

Below are ten questions to ask your potential lawyer.How long have you practiced law? ... What type of cases do you generally handle? ... Who is your typical client? ... How many cases have you represented that were similar to mine?More items...•

How do I know if my lawyer is good?

So if you're curious, use these five quick ways to research whether your lawyer is legit:State Bar Profile. Every lawyer who is licensed to practice law in your home state must be listed in your state bar association's directory. ... Google / Search Engines. ... Yelp. ... The Attorney's Own Website. ... Third-Party Rating Groups.

How do you know a bad lawyer?

Signs of a Bad LawyerBad Communicators. Communication is normal to have questions about your case. ... Not Upfront and Honest About Billing. Your attorney needs to make money, and billing for their services is how they earn a living. ... Not Confident. ... Unprofessional. ... Not Empathetic or Compassionate to Your Needs. ... Disrespectful.

How do people choose a lawyer?

The first step in the process of choosing the right lawyer, then, is the research phase. Ideally, you want to start with the names of several lawyers, and, as with the purchase of most other services, personal referrals are often the best place to start.

How much does it cost to hire a lawyer?

You can pay anywhere from $50 to thousands per hour. Smaller towns and cities generally cost less while heavily populated, urban areas are most expensive. The more complicated the case and the more experienced the attorney, the more you'll pay. Lawyer fees can range from $255 to $520 per hour.

What's the difference between attorney and lawyer?

Attorney vs Lawyer: Comparing Definitions Lawyers are people who have gone to law school and often may have taken and passed the bar exam. Attorney has French origins, and stems from a word meaning to act on the behalf of others. The term attorney is an abbreviated form of the formal title 'attorney at law'.

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...•

What are good questions to ask lawyers?

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...•

How do I prepare for an attorney interview?

If you are interviewing virtually, all of these tips apply.Do your research. Lawyers are known for being good researchers. ... Be presentable and dress your best. ... Come prepared to ask questions. ... Be personable and show enthusiasm. ... Be genuine. ... Promptly send a thank-you note.

What does a general practice lawyer do?

General practice lawyers typically cover a wide range of law areas and can cover anything from filing bankruptcies to handling probate. If you have a small and straightforward case, general practice lawyers might be able to help you just fine.

When hiring legal assistance, do you need to consider availability?

You might find that you have some flexibility regarding availability in some circumstances , while others require immediate attention.

What does it mean to be an exemplary lawyer?

The lawyers that stand out as exemplary to others are the ones who are compassionate about what they do. These lawyers care about the clients they serve and hope to bring justice to those in need.

Should I hire a lawyer?

While it would be ideal to hire the most experienced lawyer in whichever field you may need, that is not always a realistic option. But, as much as possible, you want to find someone who has extensive experience in the field in which you need guidance. Much like most things in life, experience teaches us the most valuable lessons.

What does legal insurance cover?

These plans vary. Many cover most, if not all, of the cost of legal consultations, document preparation, and court representation in routine legal matters. Other programs cover only advice and consultation with a lawyer.

Do legal aid offices have their own lawyers?

Some legal aid offices have their own staff lawyers, and others operate with volunteer lawyers. Note that people do not have a right to a free lawyer in civil legal matters. I have been accused of a crime, and I cannot afford a lawyer.

1. Attention To Details

One of the most important qualities you have to look for in a lawyer is attention to detail. As you probably know yourself, the law can be very complicated and confusing, this is, after all, the main reason why you are hiring a lawyer.

2. Good Research Skills

Other than a good eye for details, your lawyer should also possess good research skills. What does this mean exactly? He or she must have the resources, contacts, and determination to dig deep in order to find valuable information that will help your case.

3. Good Communication Skills

Sure, being a lawyer is all about studying and knowing the law perfectly, but it’s also about people. Good lawyers know the law, the best ones know the people they are working with.

4. Ethics And Good Judgment

Even though your main goal is to win your case in court, you shouldn’t be okay with someone breaking the law or being dishonest just to get you the win. This isn’t what law is about and it definitely isn’t what life is about.

5. Empathy

It’s safe to say that empathy is one of the most important traits a human being can have. After all, this is one of the things that differentiates us from the animal kingdom. The ability to feel something another person is feeling can be crucial in court. This is exactly why your attorney should be empathetic.

6. Commitment And Motivation

Since we mentioned motivation in the previous paragraph, it only made sense to talk about this trait separately. If a person wants to be good at any job, they simply need to possess a healthy dose of motivation. They shouldn’t be obsessed with the job, but they should try to exhaust every resource in order to get the job done.

7. Creativity

A lot of people think that lawyers aren’t creative people. Sure, most of them won’t paint you a picture or compose a song for you, but they will be able to tell you a creative and convincing story. More importantly, they will be able to tell that story to the jury or the judge. However, creativity isn’t only about being a good storyteller.

Clients finding lawyers through referrals from another lawyer

I used to practice family law. As a cynic might guess, my referral and call volume spiked after I moved out of state and stopped handling divorces. What do I do with those calls now?

Clients using law directories

Here’s a little story about Avvo: A mid-sized firm I worked at in a small-ish suburban town had more than half a dozen “Avvo 10.0s” (the perfect lawyer rating), all with positive client reviews as well. We would regularly get calls for family law cases from their directory, and some people would call twice … or five times.

How to get clients for your law firm

As evidenced by the statistics above, there are multiple ways that prospective clients will go about finding the legal representation that suits their needs. While referrals are important, having a strong online presence is just as crucial. Here are some top tips on how to generate new clients for yourself.

What's Clio?

We're the world's leading provider of cloud-based legal software. With Clio's low-barrier and affordable solutions, lawyers can manage and grow their firms more effectively, more profitably, and with better client experiences.

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Experience

Expertise

Reputation

Integrity

Compassion

Rapport

Cost

Availability

Conclusion – What to Look For in A Lawyer

  • Determining what to look for in a lawyer is truly dependent on your specific needs for your case. Some cases might allow you more flexibility in terms of experience levels, while others will require the highest, sure to be accompanied by the highest rates. While it is essential to look at your specific needs and assess your priorities, these 8 cate...
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