Legal Articles at Atlantic Legal Group:

Five Things to Consider When Hiring an Attorney
By J.D. – Atlantic Legal Group P.A.
April 1st 2011

The decision to hire an attorney can be a difficult one to make. In a word where legal advertisements flood your television and every other commercial on the radio seems to be a jingle for an “attorney referral service” it’s hard to know who to turn to, and when you finally decide to make the call, how do you know you are making the right choice? 

Here are some of the main things that we believe you should consider when making the decision to hire legal representation.

First, not all situations require legal representation. In some cases you may be able to remedy the situation yourself. Think about your situation and try to come to a resolution on your own. However, on the other hand, there are many instances in which you will need to hire an attorney in which case; here are a few things to consider.

One of the main things to consider is whether the attorney or law firm you will be speaking with has experience in the particular area of practice in which you need. It may seem obvious; however, you wouldn’t want a malpractice or insurance attorney handling your divorce or family law case, or a real estate lawyer handling a criminal case. Don’t be afraid to ask questions regarding the attorneys experience and success rate in situations similar to your own.

So now you have found a lawyer or law firm with experience in the area of practice in which you need representation, now, we believe that it is important to first, find out if there will be a specific lawyer assigned to your case. This is an important question to ask, especially when dealing with a large law firm with several attorneys. You want to know that there is a single person who is looking out for your best interest and understands your situation to the fullest.  

Once you know who exactly will be working your case, we believe that it is important to get to know your attorney and to make sure you get along with them personally. You want an attorney that understands what you are trying to accomplish and that isn’t going to fight you about every little thing. In the end, the attorney is the one with the experience, and you are paying them for their knowledge, so listen when they have something to say, but make sure that the listening is reciprocal and that the attorney is willing to listen to your questions and concerns and is willing to address them in an understanding way.

Finally, make sure you understand the way in which the attorney or law firm is going to be billing you. Generally, you will be asked to pay for and sign a retainer agreement. For example, you may pay $1500 up front for your retainer and $250 an hour for additional cost. (Understand that these number are used for example only. Attorneys and law firms set their own prices and each situation is different)

How it works is the attorney will work for “X” amount of time on your case until the initial retainer of $1500 is used up, and then you will begin to be billed at the hourly rate of $250. So understand and ask what you will be receiving for the cost of your retainer agreement, and let the attorney how much you are willing to spend on the case. If you want the lawyer to exhaust all resources on resolving your case as quickly as possible, expect to pay more. If you want them to do just what is necessary, the cost will be less.

* On a side note, we suggest that you try to limit phone and email conversations to a minimum with your attorney to only what is necessary. We understand that in many situations, emotions can be high, and it is nice to have someone that is understanding and is willing to listen to your problems. However, don’t forget every minute spent on the phone is costing you money against your retainer. Think about the reason you are taking to your lawyer. Is it for a status update, or to provide them with information you think they may need? Or is it because you just want  time. Of course if money isn’t an issue, the attorney will generally be more than willing to talk to you for either reason.

In conclusion, remember to spend some time deciding whether or not involving an attorney is necessary for your situation. If so, don’t forget to ask questions and make sure the attorney has experience in the area of practice in which you need. Talk about costs and what you will be receiving for the price of your retainer, and make sure that a specific lawyer will be assigned to your case. And finally talk to your lawyer and make sure that you get along with them on a personal level.

So there you have it, we hope that you will be able to use this information to aid in the process of finding and hiring legal representation.

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