Finding the right lawyer can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. As with other consumer transactions, research is key. There are a few factors that are important to take into consideration when seeking legal counsel.
Below are some tactical steps you can take to ensure you are getting the most appropriate and experienced personal injury lawyer in Birmingham Alabama to meet your unique needs:
Conduct Candidate Interviews
One of the best ways to assess a lawyer’s legal ability is by interviewing them. Most attorneys will provide an initial consultation at no charge. Below are a few questions to consider:
What experience does the lawyer have in your type of legal matter?
How long have they been in practice?
What is their track record of success?
What percentage of their caseload is dedicated to handling your type of legal problem?
Do they have any special skills or certifications?
Ask About What You Can Expect from a Communication Standpoint
It’s important to have an open line of communication with the attorney that is representing you. When interviewing attorneys, ask them about their communication channels.
Ask questions such as:
- Do you have an assistant or secretary that takes your messages?
- Will I speak with you when I have questions, or is it possible that another attorney or legal team member will return my call?
- Will I be notified when something changes with my case, or do I need to call in and check for status updates?
- How long do your clients normally wait for a callback?
- Will your office schedule meetings at times that are convenient for me?
It is important to set a realistic standard for communication on the front end, so that you know what to expect throughout the life of your case.
Planning their Schedule
How busy is the attorney you are considering? When attorneys perform well, they can take on a high volume of cases and rely on their legal team for help handling research and structuring their arguments. That’s fine. But, if they’re too busy to meet with you or reach out when it’s necessary, then it may be better to find a different attorney.
Pricing and Cost
Different lawyers use different price-setting methods, which can make it difficult to decide which is the right option. Attorneys may choose to work hourly, with contingency fees, or through a privately agreed upon payment arrangement.
Hourly work is easy to understand, but not every attorney works in quite the same way. For example, an attorney may choose to charge in fifteen-minute increments and round out their time, which can be costly or save you money. That same attorney may charge you fifteen minutes for every email they send or phone calls they make.
When hiring an hourly-based attorney, ask how they charge for communications. Will you be charged for fifteen-minutes for work for a four-minute phone call?
Hourly work is common through family law, criminal cases, and other situations where it’s likely that the clients aren’t receiving any financial benefit from the case.
Contingency fees, however, come straight out of a settlement or verdict at the conclusion of the case. Most personal injury firms, including Hare Wynn, use a contingency-fee-basis. These attorneys do not get paid unless they win your case. Contingency fees keep attorneys affordable and accessible for people that were hurt or suffered damages at the hands of someone else.
Ability to Create a Strong Case
It should go without saying that you want the “right” person for the job, and that means finding someone who is experienced, effective and diligent.
When looking at attorneys, consider their recent successes in terms of settlements and verdicts. Regardless of whether your case settles outside of the courtroom, you need an attorney that is able to prepare your case for trial.
Contact Hare Wynn Today
Contact Hare Wynn now to speak with our legal team about your case. We’ll go through a full consultation, answer any of your questions, and explain our processes for case handling and communication.
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