8 Ways You Know Whether You’ve Chosen the Right Personal Lawyer for You

When it comes to choosing a lawyer, it can be quite a daunting task. There are so many professional, well sought after lawyers around, and it can be hard to pinpoint which lawyer is right for you. If you’re looking for the right personal lawyer for you and your needs, we have a checklist of the 8 different ways to know whether you’re making the right choice or not with your lawyer. And when you’re ready, you can easily find him at AtlantaAdvocate.com.

1. Ample Experience in What You Need

There are a wide range of cases and specialties that lawyers can work on, from wrongful deaths due to shooting to car wrecks that left with injuries, to employee harassments and immigration issues; and everything in between.

Your first step is to make sure that the lawyer you are choosing has ample experience in what you need. For instance: if you’re looking for someone to help you with your motorcycle accident, you probably won’t want to go to the guy that’s been dealing in divorce court for most of his career.

Your lawyer should have a serious amount of experience in the subject and case you’re struggling with, otherwise it will be a giant waste of time. Ask him about his record and experience dealing with cases like yours. A lot of lawyers are also readily available to be viewed online and will have a success record attached to them. You can also ask friends and family members if there’s anyone in particular they recommend for your type of case.

Pick their brains when it comes to your case to really see whether or not they have adequate knowledge on your type of case. Ask them about past experiences in the courtroom in relation to a case like yours, and then you can make a good decision on whether or not he will be a good match for you and your upcoming case. This is undeniably the most important part of picking a lawyer that is right for you!

2. The Right Price

At the end of the day, we can all agree that money is of importance. Whether you have some money to spend or are living on a tighter budget, money is always going to be a consideration when it comes to choosing a lawyer that is right for you.

Talk about pricing with your lawyer. If the price is right for you, then you may want to proceed. You should also make sure if there are any other hidden fees or not, or if he requires a down payment or full payment upfront, what happens if he loses the case, and if you’ll be billed for anything afterwards.

Knowing the ins and outs of the payments when it comes to your lawyer will help you when choosing the right lawyer. After discovering his fees, you may want to do a tad bit more research with other lawyers to see if they can give you the same great service for less.

3. Great Communication

Think about the first time you tried to contact this lawyer. Were they prompt with their response? Did they answer your questions to the fullest? Did they schedule a time to meet with you in a prompt manner? Communication is key when you’re dealing with a lawyer, and you can typically gage their communication skills within the first phone call and visit.

Don’t forget the importance of communication. After all, you don’t want to be stuck wondering what’s going on with your case halfway through the court proceedings, only to find you’re in disarray for weeks until he is finally able to get back with you.

You should also make it known that you expect good communication from your lawyer during the entire process. Let him know how important it is for you to be updated frequently and have the ability to get in contact with him when it is needed. He may at that time inform you that he isn’t the easiest to get ahold of, or he will put your worries at ease and let you know that even if he himself can’t contact you, his assistant will always be ready with plenty of knowledge to help.

4. Team Fits Your Needs

Some lawyers prefer to work completely independently. However, others will have an entire team setup and they all work together to make your experience top notch.

In this circumstance, you will not only need to make sure that the lawyer himself meets your needs, but his team as well. This makes things a bit more challenging and complicating; but it can also make it easier, too, if you feel that you’ve fallen in love with the entire team and they treat you like you’re part of the family.
You should also take into consideration who is doing what when it comes to the practice. Who will be handling your files? Who will be talking with the judge and district attorney? Who will you be talking to the majority of the time, and who do you contact with questions? Having all of this information before making a decision is imperative so you don’t end up feeling like you’ve chosen the wrong lawyer later on.

5. Personality

This may not be super important to some people, but it is definitely something that needs to be looked at before choosing the lawyer that is right for you.

So what’s the perfect personality for a lawyer? For some, it might be someone who is funny and easy to talk to, especially when it comes to their case. They may prefer someone who is more laid back and puts them at ease while they are a nervous wreck inside.

Someone else may prefer a lawyer who is a bit more stern and intense about his career, solely focused on winning the case rather than taking in account your feelings.

While both lawyers are good and get the job done, their personalities are adequately different. When choosing the lawyer that is right for you, make sure you choose one that you thoroughly enjoy throughout. You should not only be impressed by their skills and expertise, but they should also have a personality that you’re seeking. Otherwise, you may become upset at a later date at how they’re treating you and your case.

6. Great Track Record

Of course you want to find a lawyer that can get the job done. But you can’t ever rely on someone’s words. You need hard facts, right? And that’s why you should always put some research into the track record of the lawyer you’re planning on using. A lot of this information is available online, and if you simply ask the lawyer himself he will be able to shed plenty of light on his success rate.

You should also ask him about how these cases went. You should know how long it took him to get the win, and how many times he was able to win over losing the case. These are all facts that should be considered when making a choice on a lawyer for your case.

7. Great Referrals

An easy way to make a great choice is to check out the referrals of others. These lawyer referrals could be found online, or they could be done through word of mouth. However, with the internet becoming such a hotspot for reviews in recent years, you know you can find cold hard facts on the lawyer in question in just a few quick minutes. These reviews will tell you how everything went with the lawyer from start to finish, from his initial qualities to the end result of the court case.

On the other hand, if you personally know someone you trust that has been through a similar situation and used a specific lawyer, then you should certainly ask them about it. They will have some insights on a more personal level that can help you when making a decision. Just make sure you’re getting the referral from someone you know and trust well, and have them give you as much information as possible.

8.Understanding

When you are talking about an upcoming court case, you’re probably quite emotional about it. Whether it was something serious that caused injury or something a bit more on the surface and involving business, it’s something that will rile up a lot of feelings and emotions; and you need someone to listen and understand you.

For instance: if you were in a motorcycle accident that left you incredibly injured, you’re probably feeling upset about the entire thing and don’t need someone harsh on the other side of the desk making you feel worse or uncomfortable about speaking about your case.

You need someone who will adequately listen to your story, your needs, and your entire case, and come up with a game plan. You need someone who is  going to understand your particular situation and be able to take action without any problems.

Conclusion

Finding the right lawyer for your needs can be tough; but by simply getting to know his track record and his personality, you can make sure you’re making the right decision for you and your case.