Hiring a Lawyer
Commit to find an experienced lawyer with whom you can work jointly under a clearly understandable written fee agreement, and you’ll be on your way to the best possible result.
Consult with the lawyer before deciding to hire him/her.
At the consultation, evaluate the lawyer by asking yourself whether or not he/she gave you clear and direct information.
Consider if the lawyer spoke about whether he/she understood and shared your goals.
As a client, will you be a co-participant or will the lawyer be making all of the decisions?
Does the lawyer listen well?
Does the lawyer understand your problem or will he have to do research to answer your questions?
Can the lawyer explain the law in an understandable way and how it applies to your case?
Does the lawyer give you confidence that he can solve your legal problem cost-effectively.
Review the lawyer's retainer agreement with him/her.
Generally speaking, lawyers will charge for their services in one or more of the following ways: hourly, with a non-refundable fee retainer, or on a contingency fee basis, where you pay the lawyer a percentage of what he/she collects.
Before you sign any fee agreement, you should talk to people who could comment on the lawyer's skills and trustworthiness. Remember, the best reference is one of the lawyer's current or former clients.
Discuss the costs and expenses that will be incurred in your case.
Few attorneys will "front" or cover costs for the client, others will not. So find out what the costs will be and make arrangements from the outset for setting aside funds to cover them. These include court reporters fees, copying, computerized research, trial exhibits and expert witness fees, to name but just a few.
Consider whether you will be comfortable working with the lawyer.
Your relationship can last several years and should involve a good working relationship and trust. You want to choose the best lawyer who you think will do the best job for you.
Use your common sense and gut instincts in deciding who to hire.
