5 Tips for Choosing an Attorney
Most people only occasionally need the services of an attorney. As a result, you may not be sure what to look for when making a choice. These five tips can help.
- Choose a Specialist
Most attornies have a pretty good general idea of the law, but it is usually a good idea to choose an attorney who specializes in the particular area of the law you need help with. For example, Robin Stoby has extensive experience litigating land disputes, so if you need help in this area, this attorney might be a good choice, but if you are looking for an attorney to help you with your divorce, you might want to find an attorney who specializes in that area instead.
- Look for Good Communication Skills
Being an attorney isn’t just about presenting a case to a jury or judge. Attornies also need to communicate with the other parties in a lawsuit, their clients, witnesses, experts, government officials and more. Your attorney needs to be able to effectively communicate to obtain information and negotiate settlements. It is also important that your attorney be willing and able to keep you abreast of what is happening in your case and answer any questions you may have.
- Choose an Attorney Whose Style Matches Yours
Some attornies are aggressive. Others, aim to present a more professional or high-end persona. Others, strive to be more of an everyman type. It is important to choose an attorney whose style matches your personality and the image you want to project. This is particularly true if you are choosing an attorney to represent your business or represent you in professional matters. You also need to be comfortable with the tactics your attorney employs.
- Check References
Ask the attorney you are considering to provide you with contact information for a few previous clients. Your attorney isn’t likely to refer you to clients who will not have good things to say, so it is a good idea to also check other sources of information, such as online reviews and attorney rating sites. If there are other attorneys in your community that you trust, ask them their opinion of the attorney you are considering. Check with the bar associations for any complaints or disciplinary actions.
- Make Sure the Attorney Has the Resources To Win Your Case
If you have a high-profile or complex case, you may want to choose a larger firm with more resources to handle it. Large firms often have access to tools, such as information retrieval systems, that can save you money on research. They also have larger staffs that are likely to have a wider variety of experience, which may be important if your case involves more than one area of the law.
Having the right attorney can make a big difference when you are dealing with a legal issue. It is worth taking the time and effort to choose an attorney who is well suited to the issue you need to resolve.