As Americans, we all know that suing and lawsuits seem to be as much of our culture as apple pie!
While we hope you never have to go through this, there may come a time when you need to start looking at options for lawyers. Whether you need to file a lawsuit or fight for your defense, you need a great lawyer by your side.
But how do you make sure you get the right lawyer?
Here are the errors with picking lawyers that you need to avoid:
Not Hiring a Specialist
While Vincent LaGuardia Gambini might have been able to defend his cousin in the film My Cousin Vinny, this isn’t the best suggestion in the real world. You might have a relative or friend with general legal experience.
However, most of the time you don’t need a lawyer who has experience with different types of cases. Rather, you want to choose someone who offers specialized legal services.
Rushing to Hire a Lawyer
You’ve got to get to talking to your lawyer if you want to find the best one. You have to remember that the “best” lawyer might not be the best for you.
You have to feel comfortable working with a lawyer. You’ll develop a relationship with them and will have to work with them for several weeks or months. In the worst-case scenario, you’ll have to work with a lawyer for several years.
Take your time to find the right lawyer who you feel comfortable with. You can start by reading online reviews and asking your network. But ultimately, you must choose a lawyer based on a consultation with them.
After you have this consultation with a lawyer, then you’ll know whether you should hire them or keep looking.
Not Comparing Lawyer Fees
You might automatically think that the lawyer who charges the earth is the best one. But you have to remember that many lawyers, unfortunately, take advantage of their clients.
You want to look at the best lawyers and then look at their fees. You don’t always have to go to the cheapest option. But you want to make sure that you don’t always choose the most expensive option.
Take your time to find the best fees that you can afford. You can also negotiate with the lawyer. You can also ask them if there’s a payment plan that they offer.
If you can’t pay fees upfront at all, you can ask your lawyer if they can work on contingency. This means that they’ll work for free but take a commission if you receive compensation for your lawsuit. This option only works in some types of cases.
Always Going for Big Law Firms
There’s a time to go for a big law firm and there’s a time to go for the equivalent of the Lincoln Lawyer.
You want to not dismiss the small law firms. Sometimes, it’s better to have one lawyer and one or two paralegals working on your case. This means that you won’t have your case muddled in with other clients.
Your lawyer will spend much of their focus on your case. Often, small law firms will focus solely on one case at a time. You’ll have more peace of mind knowing that there’s special attention to your case.
Not Reviewing Their Reputation
Just because a lawyer is still practicing, it doesn’t mean that their reputation hasn’t been tarnished.
You need to research the lawyer’s reputation. Make sure that they haven’t been held in contempt of court. Make sure that they haven’t been accused of any form of corruption.
You have to also make sure there aren’t any pending legal cases against the lawyer. Take your time researching the lawyer before you hire them. During your consultation, you’re also at liberty to ask them about any issues or concerns.
Choosing Them Under Pressure
The next mistake to avoid is choosing a lawyer under pressure. Some lawyers might try to pressure you to sign a retainer right after the consultation.
These lawyers often want to make a quick buck and will do a mediocre job. Often, these are the lawyers that’ll make mistakes and then charge you for fixing them.
For example, they’ll write a statement with spelling errors. When you ask them to correct these errors, they’ll charge you for the extra labor!
Unfortunately, many lawyers do try to think of themselves as entrepreneurs first. A good lawyer will encourage you to take your time to think and consult with different lawyers.
They’ll be confident that you’ll choose them as they provide the best services. If they seem desperate to rope you in as a client, it’s best to avoid them altogether.
Not Getting a Written Agreement
Lawyers are meticulous about following the law by the book. This means that they shouldn’t agree to “handshake” deals as you would with other business transactions.
Make sure you choose a lawyer who provides a written agreement that they’ll work with you. The written agreement should mention the scope of work they’ll offer.
This written agreement should also state how much you’ll pay the lawyer. This ensures that you won’t be charged anything extra.
The written agreement will also state the lawyer’s responsibilities and liabilities. It’ll also state what they can’t be held responsible for. Make sure you take your time to read the lawyer’s written agreement.
You want to ask them to explain the written agreement before you sign it. They’ll write it using legalese but they should explain it in layman’s terms.
Avoid These Errors With Picking Lawyers
Now you know the errors with picking lawyers that you must avoid.
You must consider hiring a specialist that works for your specific type of case. You shouldn’t rush to hire a lawyer and don’t let them pressure you to work with them.
You must always research which lawyer will work best for you. Make sure you also learn about their reputation. It’s crucial that you get a written agreement before proceeding with them.
Need some more advice? We’ve got more great legal guides on our website.
