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Introduction

The process of finding the right lawyer for your needs may seem like an intidating or nervous process.

At one point or another, many people find themselves in a situation where there is in need of the services of a good lawyer.

Whether it is handling a real estate transaction, setting up a business or dealing with a family law issue, there are a vast number of situations where the experience and expertise of a good lawyer will be necessary, so you need to find a lawyer.

If you are looking for a lawyer to help you deal with a legal issue that has emerged in your life, you may be wondering how to find an attorney and how you confirm that you are choosing the right lawyer for your particular legal needs.

It is important to remember that the lawyer is offering a service and that you as a consumer of that service can and should evaluate the services offered in much the same way you would evaluate any other type of service you are looking to purchase.

How to Choose a Lawyer ?

Research phase is the first step in choosing the right lawyer. Preferably, you want to start with the names of several lawyers. Personal referrals are the best place to start as with the purchase of most other services.

Start preparing your list by asking friends, neighbours and business associates for recommendations.

The state bar associations are also good resources for finding lawyers practicing in the field in which you require assistance.

Online resources can be another good source and many such resources have the added benefit of offering consumer reviews, therefore you can see how other people have rated their interactions with a particular attorney.

How do you recognize that your attorney is good ?

You can begin the evaluation process after you have prepared a list of potential attorneys. Most lawyers offer a free initial consultation, as an informed consumer you should take full advantage of these.

Be prepared with a written list of questions and make notes during the consultation, so you can compare the lawyers on your list later.

Important questions to ask during the initial consultation include the following :

1.Area(s) of expertise:

At the time of hiring a lawyer, make sure that the lawyer you hire has experience in the area of law in which you require assistance.

There are many practice areas in the legal field, most lawyers tend to handle cases in specific practice areas.

2.Potential Costs :

Legal advice can become quite costly. Therefore it is important that you know how much your lawyer will charge you.

During the initial consultation, a lawyer should be able to give you an approximate estimate based on the facts of your case.

3.The legal team :

Most of the lawyers work by themselves where as others have paralegals on their team or outsource some of the legal work to other lawyers.

Your want to make sure to know who will be handing your file, as this can have an impact on both the quality of the service you receive and the cost.

4.Communication :

What are the various ways that lawyer communicate with his or her clients ?

If you have a question how should you get in touch with them ?

What is their response time ?

Every lawyer will most likely be handling several cases simultaneously, your case is a priority for you, so you need to make sure the lawyer you hire recognises this and communicates with you in a timely manner.

Finally in addition to getting answers to questions like these, you also want to make sure that you and the attorney you retain are a good fit when it comes to personality.

Ask yourself the question, do I feel at ease with this lawyer ?

When you have selected the attorney you think will be a good fit, it is a good idea to call the organization in your state that handles attorney disciplinary matters to make sure the lawyer you have choosen has not been the subject of any disciplinary actions.

In most of the states, this organisation will be the state bar association, but it can vary depending upon your state.

Once you have completed this assignment process, you should have the answers that need to help you to choose the right lawyer for your particular situation.

Conclusion :

Lawyers tend to be nice people. Most highly skilled lawyers are nice people too. I think the problem for many people looking for a lawyer to handle their matter is that the first Lawyer they talk to seeems nice and they feel uncomfortable not retaining them. And/or they have a prior relationship with that lawyer or may have some other connection – belonging to their Rotary Club, went to their Church, knew them from some other legal engagement. That would make the client feel awkward if they do not hire that lawyer.

I would suggest that the process of finding the right lawyer for a case should be more rigorous . When the case is over and the results are in, the client who failed to find a true expert will often regret not having been more assertive in the process.