These days, finding an available lawyer is as easy as running a quick search on the Internet. Though your search results may point you to someone with a legal degree, will they be able to provide you with help you need? When it comes to finding legal counsel that is likely to provide you with quality work and a positive outcome, there are a few more things that must be considered before you make your decision.
Quality Counsel: How to Find the Right Match:
Finding a good lawyer is the best chance you have in a criminal or civil case. The best attorney is one that will fight for your case, ensuring you every opportunity of a positive outcome. If you’re in the market for a good lawyer, it is important to keep the following tips in mind:
1. Always Research Potential Candidates:
To find the best lawyer, you’re going to have to do a little digging. While you may find some reasonably priced lawyers fairly easily, the more research you do, the more likely you are to find the right fit for you. Do your due diligence by checking out potential candidates online. Look through their reviews and past cases, as well as their qualifications and experience.
2. Set up a Meeting before Hiring Your Lawyer:
While you can easily purchase legal services online, it’s important to meet your future attorney face-to-face before any money changes hands. Once you’ve lined up a few attorneys, the next step is to set up a consultation. You may find that although a lawyer has a stellar online reputation, they may be a bit of a letdown in person.
3. Ask Questions About Your Lawyer’s Qualifications:
During the initial consultation, it is important to treat the meeting like an interview. Ask about their past cases, work ethic, and experience. The right lawyer for you will be as honest as possible, establishing a relationship of trust from the beginning.
4. Know the Legal Fees Upfront:
When looking for an attorney, always remember to know every potential cost you will be faced with. Too often, clients end up with enormous legal fees after their case closes. Any lawyer my decision to alter the fees promoted on their websites or anything that was previously discussed in a consultation. Be sure to have all of the expected fees in writing, so there are no surprises on either side.
5. Run a Background Check to Verify Your Lawyer’s Claims:
A background check will provide you with a clear idea as to who your lawyer is. Too often, lawyers may embellish the details of their resume or lie about their past cases, despite seeming to be readily convincing. By running a background check you will be able to determine whether or not your lawyer can be trusted.
It may take a bit of time to find the right lawyer for you, but it’s worth it. By conducting the necessary research, having a consultation, asking pertinent questions, learning the costs, and running a background check, you will be able to determine who you should trust as a lawyer.
Jay Sekulow is the Chief Counsel for the American Center for Law & Justice.
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