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6 Questions to Ask a Lawyer Before Hiring Them
There are several reasons you may want to hire the services of a lawyer. This is even though you can represent yourself in some matters. But before you go all out hiring, you need to gauge the lawyer with a few questions.
The questions are the ones you need to use to know if you have the right guy. The questions are general for any lawyer you need to hire as they cut across all legal practices. Here are some of the questions you should look to ask any lawyer you intend to hire.
1. If they Offer Free Consultation
Lawyers are like any other profession when they are trying to court your business. You need to have a feel of what they can offer before deciding to commit. One of the first things you need to ask is if they offer free consultations.
It shouldn’t be anything significant and don’t expect it to be, but they can offer a few tips here and there for free. For example, when you visit www.dsslaw.com, you will get a free consultation on your case before committing to anything. It will give you a stronger chance of hiring them or not.
If they have discounts for their service, this too can be a great idea to gauge their work.
2. Level of Experience
The next question you want to ask the lawyer is about their experience in the field. For example, if you are looking at a personal injury lawyer, find out how long they have practiced. For experience, it should be that distinct to your own needs.
Someone with experience will know the system and how to get around it. This will give you an added advantage whether the case is going to trial or if it will be an out-of-court settlement. The one with the most experience should be ideal if they have everything else you need.
By asking for experience, you will also determine if the lawyer has specialized in the sector or a general counsel. You need to consider the one who is specialized in your field.
3. Charges
You will be looking for a lawyer within your budget; it is prudent to find out the charges. If the lawyer charges per hour, you need to find out this to see if it’s within your budget. Others have set fees for different types of cases.
Finding out how much they charge on either case will give you a firm standing on who you can hire. The prices differ quite steeply depending on the lawyer you wish to hire. If it’s hourly, you’ll need to figure out the overall cost of hiring the person.
You may also need to find out about contingency fees that may apply. This is a percentage of the compensation that the lawyer keeps should they win the case. In some cases, lawyers will insist on it plus other charges – work out everything first.
4. Will You Get 24/7 Access
Is your lawyer available? This is something you want to figure out as early as you possibly can. Will the lawyer be working on a schedule, and do you exactly fit into that schedule?
Remember, you will not get a slave – someone who will be at your call all day and night. You need to figure out when the best times to get in touch and when to set meetings. If they are flexible with the hours, the better, depending on your case.
5. Main Contact Person
Your case is crucial to you, and you should get someone who gets that. That’s why you need to know who will be your primary contact person there. The lawyer you chose should be the one that handles the case in its entirety.
You don’t want your case to be passed off to another person down the line. Know if the case will be passed on to an associate or paralegal before you commit. It will save you a lot of stress in the future if you can make this determination early enough.
6. Win Percentage
A lawyer with an excellent win record is the one that will give you confidence. It would help if you asked about the win percentage before you commit to the lawyer. If they have never won your type of case, you need to move on to the next one.
Before committing to any lawyer, you need to ask the right questions. Depending on the answers you get, you can then decide on who you will hire. These are some of the questions you need to ask before you commit to any lawyer you meet.
