Locating Good Lawyers

Finding the best lawyer for your legal situation is similar to making any other major financial decision; you need to do some comparison shopping. Search for a Lead Counsel Rated lawyer on this site, ask friends for recommendations or otherwise find lawyers that specialize in the law area in which you need assistance (e.g., if you are charged with DUI find a lawyer that specializes in DUI defense). Make a list of several that appeal to you. Then, call each lawyer on your list and ask him or her questions to help you make a decision. Some lawyers may prefer to meet in person rather than discuss your situation over the phone. If this is the case, find out if there is a consultation fee. Many times, lawyers will not charge for the initial consultation (first meeting).

Some of the things you may want to ask the lawyer when you talk over the phone or meet include, how much experience do you have with legal issues similar to mine, how recently have you handled a case like mine, how was it resolved , what was the result. If you end up meeting the lawyer in person for a consultation, you shouldn't expect it to last any longer than 15 minutes to a half-hour. Write down all the information you get from each lawyer. Review your notes a couple of times, and take some time to think things over before making a decision. Then, make an appointment to discuss your situation further with the lawyer who seems best for you. Before the meeting, make notes about your legal situation so you can easily go over the important points with the lawyer. Bring the names, addresses and telephone numbers of everyone connected with your case (including witnesses), as well as all papers involved in your case. Some lawyers may ask to see the papers before the meeting. If the one you're meeting does, fax everything the lawyer requests as quickly as possible so he/she has enough time to go over it all before meeting with you. It depends on how you feel after meeting with them. How comfortable do you feel with the answers the lawyer provided to your questions? If you asked the lawyer how he/she handled a case similar to yours, are you satisfied with the results? Base your decision on how well you feel the lawyer can handle your case, rather than being concerned about his/her age. Just remember that even though a lawyer may have been in practice for 15 or 20 years, he/she may not have as much experience with your particular type of situation as one who has more recently graduated from law school.

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