Review the site of a lawyer
You may be able to remove an attorney or two from your list by doing this. Some of the things that should be reviewed include:
Professionalism. Most of the lawyers do not design and manage their own sites and may not even write the content of the site directly. However, one of the hallmarks of a good lawyer is the income, and lawyers who earn big will usually have more professional websites, so they don’t look tacky.
Information about lawyers or law firms. Most attorney or law firm websites will have an “about us” page or section. Read the information provided on the site to find out the qualifications of the attorney. Of course all lawyers are licensed by the state, but not all lawyers attend the same school, have the same degrees, or have the same backgrounds. Read about each lawyer and find out what kind of person the lawyer is. Information about which part of the law you like. What information is provided about the parts of the law that lawyers practice? Is he someone who is an expert in his field?
Check reviews from the internet.
See what current and former clients have to say about the attorneys left on your list. While some bad judgment must be accepted, many bad judgment from former clients complaining about the same is probably something to be considered.
Talk to friends and family.
Ask friends and family members what lawyers are left on your list. Even those who haven’t hired such attorneys may know one or two of them and can provide you with a reference to their character.
Make an appointment.
Make an appointment with the attorney remaining on your list. Lawyers are aware of the fact that clients sometimes try several attorneys first, and many offer free consultations to help you. Don’t be too wary of a lawyer charging a fee for a consultation — as it is standard practice to charge a fee for a consultation. Call and make appointments with every attorney who passes the observations you have made so far.
Prepare a list of questions for lawyers.
Before meeting with a lawyer, prepare a list of five questions to ask you. Some things to think about when preparing a questionnaire include:
The length of time it takes to answer each question. Since the initial consultation only lasts 15 minutes to an hour, you want to make sure you have ample time to ask all your questions. Therefore, consider how long it will take to answer each question, and leave out questions that can take more than 3 to 5 minutes. Remember, this is not the time to get answers to every question regarding your case. Instead, your goal is to have enough information to be able to select the best lawyer for you.
Whether questions can be answered without doing research. Many questions specific to your case require a little research and investigation, and are not appropriate to ask during the attorney selection process.
Can the answers help you to find out whether the lawyer is doing a good job or not. Asking a lawyer to describe the process needed to achieve your legal goals, it can help familiarize yourself with the part of the law you are dealing with, it is also possible to help you decide which lawyer to hire, as every answer will be the same. Asking each attorney about their experience and expertise in similar cases can provide you with more useful information.
Ask your questions.
Some sample questions that you might find useful include: How many cases have you worked on the same as mine? More importantly, how are the cases resolved? How will you update any changes or developments in my case? How can I reach you, even at midnight? Will there be a limit to how far I have to be represented? You will also need to generate specific questions regarding your situation.
Take notes at the meeting and ask all of your questions.
Bring a notebook and pen too don’t be afraid to take notes! You will want to remember as much as you can about the attorney you talk to, so that you can make a good decision about which lawyer to hire. You should be able to remember what each lawyer said and what you thought of the lawyer during the meeting.
During meeting with a lawyer to choose the best lawyer for you, pay attention to how the staff behaves. Are they professional and courteous? Do they seem busy and involved in their work, or spend their time chatting with other co-workers? Lawyers often delegate a certain amount of work to their staff, so you should choose a lawyer with the best staff!
Find out how the attorney will charge for his services.
It is very important to know how the attorney plans to charge you when he works for you. Lawyers generally charge for their services in three different ways. Charges are fixed, hourly, or irregular (meaning they will charge you a percentage of the amount raised in your lawsuit.)
Keep in mind that personal injury will generally cost you an irregular fee. Most lawyers, however, charge on an hourly basis.
Collapse your list to the top two attorneys.
Review each attorney’s answer to your question and evaluate the attorney based on their staff, the answers given during your meeting with him, and your impressions at that time (as written in your notebook). From the two lawyers, choose the one that you think is most suitable for your situation. Keep the information from the attorney on the second list, just in case the first choice attorney doesn’t work out well.
Make a legal service usage agreement.
By making these forms of agreement, the rights and obligations of the attorney and client will become clear. A good lawyer will never hesitate to sign a contract between himself and his client. Your agreement should describe the employment relationship between you and your lawyer, and the terms and conditions of your agreement with your lawyer. These conditions must include the fees you have to pay, the fees the attorney will charge, the increase in the minimum bill. Note: the minimum bill increase should be six minutes, not 15 minutes.