When its time to choose a lawyer, there is a lot of planning and consideration that needs to be done. This isn’t the time to just open up the phonebook and select the first lawyer ad that you see. It is important to realize that there are many different types of lawyers. For example, if you are trying to put together your will, you are going to need a different type of lawyer than you would if you were injured in an accident.
The Internet is brimming over with online directories of lawyers in your region. Websites will directly link you over to a given website so that you can read more about a given lawyer or law firm. A lawyer or law firm’s website can be a fantastic way to narrow down your search. If a lawyer does not have a website (or has a website that is barely functioning) that is nothing short of an enormous red flag. It may be difficult to believe, but there are many lawyers, even in today’s digital Internet era, that do not have websites. A lawyer without some web presence is, to be blunt, a lawyer that is difficult to take seriously.
When you are on a lawyer or law firm’s website, take a good long look at the law firm’s mission and what kinds of cases they are interested in taking. This is a critical and important step. You must evaluate whether or not your needs and the mission of the law firm are a match. You also want to be able to look over lawyer biographies. Make certain that you pay special attention to a lawyer’s academic records and work experience. At this early stage of the game, you may not have much to go on. Thus, you have to pay extra attention to these important and vital details.
Often people fail to realize that they can ask lawyers for references. However, it is completely acceptable to do so. This means that you can talk to past clients and get some very valuable feedback. While there are quite a few questions that you could ask, when it comes time to chat with a lawyer’s references, one great question to ask is, “do you feel everything was handled professionally?” Another good question is “did you win?” If your lawyer lost the case, then you might want to look elsewhere for legal help.
One very good place to start when you are looking to choose a lawyer is to ask your friends and family if they have any recommendations. Even if your friends or family don’t have experience personally dealing with a lawyer, they may know other people who can point you in the right direction.
Jeff Harmon is a former social security disability lawyer who is now working on a book about the legal profession. She loved working with clients directly over the years in Manhattan, but she also loves her new relaxing lifestyle at her lakefront property in Michigan.