Legal issues are often unplanned. However, you can give yourself a better chance by hiring the right law office. But choosing an experienced and respectable law firm like The Law Office of Trent Linville should be done with caution. You must look for the differentiating factors and what makes the law office the perfect choice for your legal needs.
This article simplifies it all by providing the needed guidance on choosing the right law office for your needs.
Start by Identifying Your Legal Needs
The key to choosing the right law office is knowing what you need and how you want those needs to be met. For example, if facing a DUI charge, you need a criminal defense lawyer, but not just any criminal defense lawyer – A DUI attorney.
You also need to determine what you need in terms of the law office’s size. You can choose a solo attorney, a small law firm, or a large divorce law firm with plenty of attorneys but make sure you discover what makes them unique and valuable to your side of the divorce. The choice depends on whether you want a team handling your case or you’d prefer the personalized attention of an attorney.
By determining what you want and how you want it, you set a clear scope for who to consider and, eventually, who to hire.
Research Potential Lawyers
With a clear scope, wants, and needs identified, you can now proceed to the next step – shopping for a lawyer. There are plenty of ways to do this, from searching online using your smartphone or computer to asking friends and family members for recommendations.
You can also speak to colleagues, neighbors, religious leaders, and existing legal counsel. Ensure that all the recommendations gathered are treated as such until you’ve properly vetted each law office.
You can also visit your local bar association physically or via their website to check for lawyers practicing in the specific legal areas of your interest.
Research & Verify Each Law Office
Armed with a list of potential law offices, narrow your search by reading more about each one and what stands them out. You want to verify that the law office exists and that they provide the services you need.
Remove law offices that do not mainly or exclusively practice in your area of interest. Once thinned, you should also research more about each law office and their reputation. Reputable law offices always strive to deliver stellar legal services to keep their reputation untainted.
In addition, read reviews about each law office and find a common theme among their past clients. If past clients have complained about shady or hidden fees, you will likely experience the same.
Contact the Law Offices
Having trimmed your list of recommendations to a handful, it’s time to reach out to each of the law offices to ask questions. Contacting the law offices is important because it gives you a first-hand experience of their client service.
Take note of the communication channel and how long the law office takes to respond to your inquiries. Also, pay attention to how willing the lawyers are to help. Some law firms offer a free initial consultation meeting where they listen to your concerns and provide guidance and advice.
You can further narrow your options based on the law firm’s responsiveness and willingness to help.
Communication and Relationship
Communication is an important part of your attorney-client relationship. It is important to prioritize attorneys who you feel comfortable communicating with – as this will go a long way in helping you and your case.
As a client, pay attention to the law office’s communication channel, whether they have assigned a point man to your case, and how responsive the assigned lawyer is. You should also consider how comfortable you are with the lawyer, asking questions, and receiving responses.
If you feel the lawyer isn’t a good match, ask about possibly changing them. Note the law office’s response to such demands, as they’ll make a huge impact on whether or not you hire the law office for your legal needs.
Legal Plans and Strategy
The major difference between you and your attorney or law office is the knowledge, experience, and expertise they bring to your case. You should feel confident in the legal plan and strategy the law firm has for your case.
The law firm should also be willing to break the strategy into simple terms that you can understand. It is important that you feel confident and comfortable in the plan the law firm has for your case and the expected outcomes. It is also equally important to avoid law firms that make bogus or unreasonable promises regarding your case outcomes.
Ask questions and ensure you’ve gotten satisfactory answers before committing to the law office’s services.
