No one wants to be on the receiving end of a lawsuit, have a criminal case brought against them, or have to pursue a personal injury case. In fact, it’s pretty safe to say that, when it comes to litigation and the courtroom, most people would prefer to stay as far away from it all as possible. Unfortunately, legal issues arise, and you may find yourself needing an attorney before you know it. Whether you’re in a civil case or coming before the federal court, you want your legal counsel to be the best possible for your needs. Here are some ways you can find the best fit for your chance at a good outcome.
Evaluate their education and experience.
Hiring a lawyer is like buying any product or service or hiring a candidate for any job. You want the candidate with the right knowledge and years of experience to do the best job possible. While obtaining a law degree is never easy by any stretch of the imagination, certain schools will make sure that lawyers are more prepared for difficult cases compared to others. You also won’t want an attorney who’s relatively new at the job to handle a case of unusual complexity.
Let’s say you’re looking for law firms in New Orleans, for example. You can check the Louisiana Super Lawyer aggregate to get a breakdown of experienced law firms in the New Orleans area. This will detail how long the practice has been active, what litigation specializations each lawyer has, and what you can expect from working with each law firm. Also, remember that you may need to get really specific for specializations. While any personal injury attorney could help you file suit for negligence or malpractice, you’d be better off with a workers’ compensation attorney to handle a case where your insurance claim was unfairly denied after a workplace injury.
Don’t assume that higher fees mean better results.
While legal services with rock bottom prices will rightfully raise some eyebrows, don’t think that you automatically need the most expensive lawyer in the area to get the job done. Legal fees are never cheap, and spending too much on an attorney can leave you in a worse position, even with a positive result.
For example, consider if you were charged with a DUI and are looking for experienced DUI lawyers. These cases generally involve chemical evidence, making them fairly cut-and-dry affairs, and most state laws these days won’t allow for the charge to be reduced. An attorney who charges an average price can likely keep you out of jail as well as an expensive attorney, in this case, but you’ll have a harder time paying fines and increased insurance costs if you spent too much money on your lawyer. Look for someone who can demonstrate a solid track record without costing a fortune.
Always ask for a consultation.
The best lawyers will generally have no problem meeting with you to give free consultation on your situation and explain how they can help. Let’s say you were planning a trip to Mammoth Cave National Park because you wanted to experience the cave tour and set your camper up at the campground. Unfortunately, before you could even make it to the visitor center, your vehicle was struck by a texting driver. Not only is your trip ruined, but you may now need a car accident lawyer, especially considering that Kentucky is a choice no-fault state. This means that drivers can opt-out of no-fault insurance and open themselves up to sue or be sued following an accident.
If you’ve narrowed your choice down to a handful of the best law firms in your area but can’t quite make a decision, visit each one for a consultation. While they won’t be able to make any promises, and you should steer clear of lawyers who try, the one that gives you the most confidence in your case is the one to trust.
