Few Things To Consider When Choosing The Right Attorney Finding a legal professional to take care of your private and sometimes emotional matters can be a daunting task. It seems that at the time we most need an attorney we are least likely to be in the frame of mind to look for one. So, how should you sort through the mix of recommendations and names set before you when the situation presents itself and you must decide upon legal representation for one reason or another? Few things are more important to the success of your estate planning than the attorney you choose to design and draft it. Almost as important is the relationship that is formed between that attorney and other professional advisors who serve you in the areas of financial advice and accounting.
Research Is the attorney you are considering in good standing before the State bar of whichever state you require representation? Has he or she been sanctioned or reprimanded for ethical or other violations? This information is generally public record on your state's board of professional responsibility. Is he or she embroiled in any legal issues of his or her own that may affect or complicate their ability to represent you? Sometimes simply googling the individual will reveal more than you know.
www.handelinlaw.com 1000 N. Division Street, Suite 201, Carson City, NV 89703
References Talk with former and/or current clients of the prospective lawyer to determine if they have had a good experience. Does the individual return calls promptly? Is the attorney someone they would use again? Did they feel the fee the attorney charged was commensurate with the services rendered? If applicable, was the outcome favorable?
Cost What and how does the attorney charge fees? One of the most important considerations in deciding on legal counsel is the cost of the attorney's services. Attorney's fees can be very expensive and can add up quickly in lengthy and complex legal services. Depending on your type of legal issue, an attorney may charge a flat fee, a retainer fee paid up front from which future billing is drawn, a straight hourly fee, or a contingency fee which is when the attorney is paid a percentage of what you recover from your case. With a contingency fee, if you recover nothing, the attorney does not get a fee. Keep in mind that even if you do not recover, you would still be responsible for costs other than attorney fees such as court costs or other costs associated with your legal issue.
Expertise Does the attorney you are considering focus his or her practice in the area of law you are seeking? Attorneys can advertise that they work in certain areas of the law but may not have worked many cases in that specific area of the law. For example, if you are considering hiring a lawyer to handle a motor vehicle accident case for you, ask him or her how many other car accident cases he or she has handled. Ask how many of those cases were decided in favor of the attorney's client. You may know an attorney who has been in practice for decades and who advertises that he or she does work in wills and estate matters as well as personal injury.
Appeals If you are seeking an attorney for any legal issue that involves a court proceeding, then there is always the possibility of an appeal. Inquire about the likelihood of appeal in your particular matter. Ask if this attorney handles appeals as not all attorneys do. If the attorney does handle appeals, ask about the different costs associate with an appeal. Ask about the timeline of an appeal. www.handelinlaw.com 1000 N. Division Street, Suite 201, Carson City, NV 89703
Negotiation Skills All accident attorneys understand the basics of filing an injury claim, as some cases indicate clear lines of negligence and fault. The real skill for an attorney is in the negotiation process, especially if the primary responsible defendant has financial resources that may be attainable beyond insurance coverage. Insurance polices all have monetary caps, and their coverage responsibility stops at the cap. That is not necessarily true for individuals with additional resources in cases that calculated higher in damages. Furthermore, when multiple negligent respondents are involved, the total amount of the claim may be settled significantly higher with an attorney that is skilled in multiple and simultaneous negotiations.
www.handelinlaw.com 1000 N. Division Street, Suite 201, Carson City, NV 89703