As of 2021, there are approximately 1.3 million lawyers in the US.
Choosing the best local lawyer for you or your loved one could be a challenge with this high number of lawyers.
Luckily, most lawyers offer free or low-cost consultation. Knowing the right questions to ask could make this session more productive and ease the search burden.
To help you make the most of the consultation, we’ve prepared a list of questions you should ask your potential attorney.
Do You Specialize?
Specialization is spreading roots across all industries. Lawyers, too, are choosing an area of specialization in the legal field. This allows them to gain unmatched expertise and experience in the said field.
Seek to know if the local attorney you’re considering is specialized in the area of your case. This will ensure you get an expert in that field, and your chances of getting a favorable outcome will be high.
How Long Have You Practiced Law?
The length of practice is a critical factor that shouldn’t be overlooked when hiring an attorney. Make sure you ask the lawyer this question.
Typically, you should consider the best attorney who has been in the service for many years. This experience comes in handy when handling your case.
Chances are, they’ll likely have experienced a similar case to yours. This gives them an insight into how to approach your unique case and avoid making errors that could be detrimental to the case’s outcome.
Are You Qualified to Practice law?
Nowadays, getting a local lawyer is just a simple Google search for “lawyers near me,” and voila, you get countless responses to choose from. As convenient and tempting it is, you shouldn’t just commit yourself without doing your due diligence first.
With fraudsters lurking everywhere, you should seek to ascertain that the lawyer you’re considering is qualified. Be bold and ask the tough question, “Are you qualified and licensed?”
Highly qualified lawyers like Sweet Lawyers will prove their qualifications.
Do You Have a License?
For any local attorney to practice law, one must have a license from the state. Most states require a lawyer to pass the states bar examination before acquiring a license.
A lawyer may be qualified to practice law in another state but not in your state. When you ask this question, you’re making sure you get a lawyer who’s licensed to practice in your state.
What’s Your Fee Structure and Billing Rate?
To avoid shock and confrontations, you should ask for the attorney’s payment plan. Some lawyers prefer when billed by the hour for the time and resources they invest in your case. Others will opt for a chunk of the settlement money after winning the case.
Understanding this will help guide you in making the right decision as you can only hire the lawyer you can afford.
With the billing rate and fee structure, you’ll be able to take steps to acquire the funding for your case.
Ask These Question and Get the Best Local Lawyer
Finding the right local lawyer could be the missing Jigsaw puzzle for your case. You’ll have to invest your time and resources to ensure you get the best possible outcome.
These questions will help you pick the best-suited attorney for your case.
For more practical legal advice articles, please check our other blog posts.