Hiring a Lawyer

Let's face it – hiring a lawyer can be intimidating. If you have never hired a lawyer before you may not even know what questions you should be asking. The following are a list of things to consider when hiring a lawyer:

1. Experience. How experienced is the lawyer? Does he or she appear knowledgeable about the practice of law? One good indicator of experience is the number of years the lawyer has been practicing. Although this isn’t the most important factor (a lawyer practicing for 5 years could be a much better lawyer than someone practicing 25 years), it is still important. All lawyers on DealOnALawyer.com have to have been in practice for a minimum of three years.
2. Expertise. Perhaps the most significant consideration in hiring a lawyer is whether that attorney has the expertise needed to handle your particular matter. You wouldn’t hire an electrician to fix a leaky sink, you would hire a plumber. Similarly, you want to make sure that your lawyer has the right expertise for your case. Lawyers on DealOnALawyer.com are only allowed to take cases in their primary practice areas.
3. A Good Fit. You cannot overlook the importance of liking your lawyer. You don’t have to be best friends, but you do have to feel comfortable in their presence and confident in their abilities. If it just doesn’t “feel right” you should probably hire a different lawyer. With our Satisfaction Guarantee you can be confident that you will find the right lawyer to handle your case.
4. Attorney Fees. Someone will always be the most expensive lawyer in town and someone will always be the cheapest. You should never hire a lawyer based solely on price! The most expensive lawyer may not be the best fit for your case or even the best lawyer in town. If someone is the least expensive lawyer you should probably be concerned (or at least ask why). Although most consumers are price sensitive, the other things on this list are just as important as price. Remember, however, that there are reasons why someone charges $400 per hour and someone else charges $200 for the same divorce (experience and expertise tend to be the two biggest factors in pricing).
5. Practice Philosophy. You may not know much about the law, but you probably know what kind of experience you want to have. Ask a lawyer what his or her practice philosophy is. You want to make sure that your lawyer’s practice philosophy is in line with how you want your case conducted. For example, if you are seeking a Collaborative divorce, you probably do not want an aggressive litigator.
6. Commitment to Excellence. You presumably want a lawyer who is committed to excellence in his or her field. Does your lawyer keep current on changes in legislation and caselaw? Does your lawyer serve on boards in his or her particular area of the law? What things does your lawyer do that tell you he or she is committed to excellence in the practice of law and in that particular field of law?
7. The Game Plan. Towards the end of your interview, ask the lawyer what the “game plan” would be if you hired him or her. The lawyer should be able to describe the next several steps in your case as well as an overall approach to the case (this ties in with practice philosophy). Does the game plan make sense to you? Do you agree with it? Remember that the lawyer knows more about the law than you do, but you know more about your case than the lawyer does – and you are the one who has to live with the outcome. You need to make sure you are both on the same page about your case. Discussing the game plan is a good way of doing this.
8. The Little Things. Take notice of the little things when visiting a lawyer’s office. Were you greeted warmly when you arrived? How did the lawyers treat the office staff? Was the phone ringing off the hook? Did the atmosphere make you feel comfortable (e.g., some clients prefer a lawyer in high-rise tower but others would feel intimidated by it). Is your lawyer available to meet after normal business hours? There are lots of little things a law office can do to make you feel comfortable. A legal matter is a big deal – take notice of the little things that will make your legal journey more (or less!) pleasant.