Choosing an attorney can be very stressful. How do you know which one is best? How can you be sure that your lawyer will do a good job? And usually, when you are seeking an attorney, it is because you are already in a stressful situation. It's enough to raise your blood pressure.
First and foremost, you need to make sure the attorney you hire has the right kind of experience. Many attorneys specialize in handling certain types of problems. For example, some lawyers handle only divorce cases, while others specialize in bankruptcies or personal injury cases. Your attorney needs to know the ins and outs of the law that governs your specific problem. A bankruptcy attorney, for instance, will not be knowledgeable about landlord and tenant laws. General practitioners, however, can often handle any number of issues for you. This saves you from having to choose several different attorneys if you have more than one matter to resolve.
It's also important that you choose your attorney based on experience and not personality. While many lawyers may be kind and understanding, you need them to know exactly how to handle your situation, not to simply be able to ease your mind on the telephone.
Unless your legal problem is highly unusual, an experienced attorney should understand your situation immediately and know exactly what to do. If the lawyer needs to look up the law or study prior cases, it's a good bet this lawyer does not have the adequate expertise to handle your case.
Choosing the right attorney can take several days and can be a very time-consuming process. If you have no recommendations from friends, you will have to make blind phone calls and ask many questions. Some of the most important questions, of course, involve how much the services will cost you. Is there a retainer fee? Is it a flat fee, or will you be charged an hourly rate? Are your telephone calls included in hourly charges? What kind of expenses are you expected to pay for the attorney, such as phone charges, postage, and parking?
