Prelude
Many people will go their whole lives without ever needing a lawyer or any form of legal assistance, but now you’ve found yourself in a situation where you require a lawyer to assist you in your legal matters. With no experience on the subject, you are unsure on how to proceed in acquiring a lawyer. The following article will serve as a guide on the importance of knowing what questions you must ask and what attributes you must look for, before you hire a lawyer to represent you in your legal matter.
Experience
Whether it be a traffic ticket or an assault charge, the first thing you must make sure of is that the lawyer you are looking to acquire is experienced in the area of law in which you need representation. When you make that first call or send that first email requesting a lawyer, find out when the lawyer was “called to Bar” that simply means, “the date they became a lawyer”, that will inform you of exactly how long the lawyer has been practicing law.
Hourly rate and retainer
It is important to know your options, lawyers are expensive, their hourly rates are different from their retainers which is required to begin work on your file. It is common that a senior lawyer (more experience practicing law) will have a higher hourly rate than a junior lawyer (less experience practising law), however, this is not always the case, do not be afraid to ask questions about the hourly rates of all the lawyers at the firm, this will prevent you from hiring a lawyer who specializes in the requested area law but has an hourly rate of e.g., $400.00, to help you fight a traffic ticket, when you could hire a lawyer who also specializes in the same area of law but with a lower rate to represent you in the same matter. Be sure that you are adequately informed on how the hourly rate and retainer of the lawyer will be calculated, before signing the Retainer Agreement or Acknowledgment of Legal Fees.
Expectations
Depending on the complexity of your legal matter, you could be dealing with it for months or even years before reaching a conclusion. Your lawyer will be the person you go to for direct legal advice, decision-making regarding your file, and who you will trust and confide in to ensure your legal matter goes smoothly. Be sure to acquire a lawyer in which you have confidence that they will meet your expectations and you are comfortable with them representing you. For e.g., if you are a person who struggles with understanding English, seek out a lawyer who has some experience with clients who are not fluent in English or if possible, a lawyer who speaks your native language. Language barriers can cause quite a lot of miscommunication and misunderstanding, and clear communication and understanding between both parties is required for a successful lawyer-client relationship.
Ethics and Conduct
Be certain that you approve of the ethical conduct of the lawyer you are looking to hire. Many people hire a lawyer without first looking into the lawyer’s track record of how they treat their clients. Inquire to see if the lawyer has a history of professional misconduct and/or poor communication skills. Proper communication with your lawyer is necessary to ensure information is being passed on adequately. Be sure that you are satisfied in all aspects, before proceeding to hire a lawyer.
Thank you for reading until the end, I expect that this article was helpful in providing you with sufficient knowledge on what is to be ascertained when hiring a lawyer.
