When Things Get Difficult: Choosing the Best Lawyer in Trying Times
Choosing a lawyer is never fun, regardless of the situation. It’s one of those adult responsibilities that literally nobody looks forward to. But when you’re choosing a lawyer for serious, major life decisions, it can be even more than stressful – it can be downright debilitating.
Still, there’s no opting out when it comes to choosing a lawyer. It’s something that you need to have – so much depends on it. Here we’ve laid out the process to make it a little simpler to go through the process of choosing the best legal representation for you.
Identify Your Specific Need and Start There
It seems like obvious advice, but many people ignore this, choosing to contact a general lawyer or a friend-of-a-friend who practices law, hoping that someone can help them. In many cases, helpful lawyers will steer them in the right direction with a referral or advice, but you should really do your research on the best law firms to represent your specific needs. You don’t want to just land on the first probate lawyer you find, for example – no, you want a list of the best probate lawyers in the area, namely one who has handled specific cases like yours, and seen real results. You can only find that type of lawyer by researching lawyers in your area, reading reviews, and consulting with a few. You’ve got to do the legwork to find the best representation for yourself and your case.
Meetings/Consultations
Most good law firms offer free consultations or first-visits, so you can meet with the legal representative, explain your case, get advice/guidance, and decide if the lawyer is a good fit for you (this also works in their benefit, as they can decide if they want to/are able to take on your case). This is especially important in high-stress/high-stakes cases like hiring a divorce lawyer, a child custody lawyer, or a harassment lawyer – in cases where it’s about more than just winning some settlement, where actual lives will be affected.
Sometimes meetings can be held remotely or over the phone, but if you can manage an in-person consult, that’s all the better. You need to be confident in your choice of legal representation when the stakes are high. Ask them questions, get a feel for their expertise, and beware of any red flags such as a lawyer who takes on your case without asking you a single question or knowing anything about your case.
Budget/Fees
Every lawyer is different, but many will take on your case initially and agree to be paid later from a settlement or set up some kind of payment plan. Lawyers understand that often cases are dependent on receiving compensation.
For those in which budget is a major concern, there are lawyers in most major cities who will work pro-bono, or who work for services like legal aid, where you can find a lawyer who will represent you for free. Even in the case of these lawyers, however, you have the right to seek any representation you want – you don’t have to hire a lawyer just because they are free.
These are just three first steps in choosing the best lawyer for you, no matter the legal issue. Take the time to meet with several lawyers who have expertise and success in the specific areas in which you need representation.