How to find the right lawyer
Choosing a lawyer is a big decision. You want to make sure you find someone who is qualified, experienced, and trustworthy. Sounds easy enough until you start your search and find that almost every name you come across checks all those boxes. You also want to make sure you feel comfortable communicating with them. Communication is such a big part of the relationship and this one is non-negotiable. If you can't communicate back and forth, how can you expect your results to be in line with your goals? It's easy, you can't. This article will provide you with some tips on how to choose the right lawyer for your needs.
Tips
1. Define Your Needs
Like working with every professional, you must start by outlining what it is you're trying to achieve. This should be done before you even start looking for a lawyer. It is so important to define your needs. What type of legal issue are you facing? What are your goals? Once you know what you need, you can start to narrow down your search. Like your search for a doctor or financial advisor, you'll want someone who specializes or has a focus on whatever aspect of law governs your goals.
2. Ask for Recommendations
I cannot stress this one enough, but please take this with a grain of salt. Everyone has their favorite food, restaurant, and even car brand and it varies greatly depending on the individual. You'll want to talk to your friends, family, and other people you trust to see if they have any recommendations for lawyers. They may be able to give you some valuable insights into the lawyers they have worked with.
3. Check Online Reviews
There are several websites where you can read reviews of lawyers. This can be a helpful way to get a sense of the lawyer's reputation and experience. Again, when you work with the public, you'll want to use some judgment with the feedback you find.
4. Interview Potential Lawyers
Once you have a few potential lawyers in mind, it is important to interview them. Yes, that's right, have an initial consult to get a feel for how the relationship will work, and ask as many questions as you'd like. You'll want to at least know the timeline, cost, and process. This will also give you a chance to ask them questions about their experience, and their approach to their work, and get an idea if working together is a good fit or not.
5. Make Sure You Feel Comfortable
You should feel comfortable communicating with your lawyer. You should be able to trust them and feel confident that they will represent your interests to the best of their ability. After working with clients and their attorneys for years, I can say some feel intimidated and insecure around their lawyers. With all the choices available, this should never be the case.
Additional Tips & Tricks we've uncovered over the years
Get everything in writing. This includes your fee agreement and any other important documents. If it's not on paper, it doesn't exist.
Stay informed about your case. Ask your lawyer questions and make sure you understand what is going on. Open communication throughout should be paramount.
Be prepared to provide your lawyer with all of the information they need. This includes documents, witnesses, and any other information that may be relevant to your case if it applies. Trust should be at the forefront of the relationship so you'll want them to have all the information that can improve your outcome.
Don't be afraid to fire your lawyer if you are not happy with them. You should feel comfortable with your lawyer and confident that they are representing your interests to the best of their ability. No need to hold back information regardless of how insignificant you might think it is.
Conclusion
Choosing a lawyer is a big decision, but it is important to take your time and make sure you find the right person for your needs. By following these tips, you can increase your chances of finding a lawyer who will help you achieve your legal goals. Of course, you can also ask your trusted partners like your CPA or financial advisor. I keep a minimum of three resources available for clients to further investigate on their own. It's all about personal preference. Most will have the credentials you're looking for, but it's the presence, personality, approach, communication, and process that differentiates the right professional for you.
Additional Resources that could help narrow things down
American Bar Association: https://www.americanbar.org/
FindLaw: https://www.findlaw.com/
Nolo: https://www.nolo.com/
If you haven't checked out my PennyWise Financial Podcast, watch a look at a clip from our latest show with guest Kevin Johnson, Esq from Klafehn Heise & Johnson, PLLC from Brockport, NY. Scroll down to watch the entire episode. It's available on all major podcast platforms like Apple, Google Spotify, and YouTube.
👇Or click below to watch the full Episode
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