In the modern world an attorney does more than bail people out of jail. Every business including that of the World Wide Web needs the services of an attorney. But the world is full of attorneys of all kinds and sadly not all are honest.
Since a client attorney relationship is based on trust you would need to only appoint an attorney you are comfortable with and are not intimidated by. Another important consideration is what you need an attorney for. Law is a specialized field and you will need to look for an attorney who practices in the area you need help with.
Before just selecting an attorney at random it would be advisable to familiarize yourself with the way law works. Many states have websites to guide people. Check out everything before you hire a lawyer.
Set yourself a goal to locate a lawyer who you like and trust. One you can confide in and one who will care about what happens to you. A lawyer is in many ways your conscience so choose with care. Think about using a reputed lawyer referral service like this one set up by the Massachusetts Bar Association. http://www.massbar.org/lawhelp/need_lawyer/index.php?sw=539&PHPSESSID=a2735a0409a62282c3588fb94561fa9b .
The 10 most critical things a lawyer must toe the line for are:
1. He must have the proper qualifications and have extensive experience in the field of law you need him for. You cannot choose a criminal lawyer to handle say a divorce case.
2. He must agree to handle your case himself and not assign you to a colleague or assistant.
3. He must be licensed to work in the area and state or country you need him.
4. He must be honest and upfront with you about the case. If he thinks you have no chance of winning he must say so.
5. He must answer your questions clearly and tell you about not just his successes but failures too.
6. He must be well connected in your area other wise the case will be a damp squib.
7. He must not be loose lipped and discuss salient features of your case at social gatherings.
8. He must lay the cards on the table regarding fees and there should be no hidden charges.
9. His experience should enable him to tell you how long he thinks your case will take and what the strong and weak points of your case are.
10. He must make an effort to listen to you carefully, make notes, read your file thoroughly and not just set the file aside, smile at you and shake your hand within minutes to indicate the meeting is over.
What is most essential for you when you step out to hire a lawyer is to do your homework. Ask friends, business colleagues, and others who have ever used a lawyer. Learn how to sift through the chaff and find a lawyer that will suit you most. Do not hire one that charges the lowest fees. Find one that is well qualified, dedicated, and affordable.
http://www.articlejoe.com/Article/10-Critical-Tips-on-How-to-Hire-an-Attorney/27471
Thursday, October 18, 2007
10 Ways to Keep Legal Fees Affordable
Hiring a lawyer is step one when you need legal advice or help. Step two is the most crucial as you need to have a clear idea what the lawyer is going to cost. Most lawyers charge by the hour and rates may vary from USD 60-USD 300 per hour. It depends on the lawyer, the extent of your case, and where the case is to be fought.
In cases of personal injury or worker’s compensation often lawyers agree to a contingent fee agreement. In this case they do not charge by the hour but take one-third of the compensation awarded. However you will still need to bear costs like court filing fees and costs of deposing witnesses and so on.
While most lawyers do not negotiate on fees you could think about:
1. Discussing your case and personal finances openly with the lawyer. Ask whether he will consider a consolidated fee instead of an hourly rate.
2. Explain how your case will benefit him and his firm. Sometimes even big firms and lawyers take on cases for less than their standard rates if it will benefit them in some way.
3. Think about using a lawyer attached to a smaller firm than a large one. New firms and smaller firms may quote a rate lower than an established lawyer.
4. Ask whether they offer better terms if you undertake to do a considerable amount of foot work for the case.
5. If you need legal representation for your business or family on a sustained basis many firms do offer a better rate based on the volume of work you will bring them.
6. Indicate that you will not waste too many hours of the lawyer by ensuring that you jot down facts of the case clearly, bring witnesses to meet the lawyer, and keep handy all documents necessary for the case.
7. Save money by not wasting the lawyer’s time on phone calls. Remember he will bill you even if you are just having a friendly chat or are weeping on his shoulder. Prepare to be short and precise when you speak to him. As far as possible put things down on paper and send it to his office. E-mails work better than phone calls.
8. You know your case better than anyone else so make detailed notes and prepare a file for the lawyer with details such as names, addresses, what happen when and so on. This way you will not waster time meeting with the lawyer unless unavoidable.
9. Request for regular billing and keep track of the time, costs and so on. If you study the bills carefully and recognize
Always put things down in writing, especially the fee agreement. The agreement should include the rate, services covered, and what expenses are not covered by the agreed on fees and are to be paid at actual. In fact by law any legal fees over USD 1000 must be agreed upon in writing.
http://www.articlejoe.com/Article/10-Ways-to-Keep-Legal-Fees-Affordable/27739
In cases of personal injury or worker’s compensation often lawyers agree to a contingent fee agreement. In this case they do not charge by the hour but take one-third of the compensation awarded. However you will still need to bear costs like court filing fees and costs of deposing witnesses and so on.
While most lawyers do not negotiate on fees you could think about:
1. Discussing your case and personal finances openly with the lawyer. Ask whether he will consider a consolidated fee instead of an hourly rate.
2. Explain how your case will benefit him and his firm. Sometimes even big firms and lawyers take on cases for less than their standard rates if it will benefit them in some way.
3. Think about using a lawyer attached to a smaller firm than a large one. New firms and smaller firms may quote a rate lower than an established lawyer.
4. Ask whether they offer better terms if you undertake to do a considerable amount of foot work for the case.
5. If you need legal representation for your business or family on a sustained basis many firms do offer a better rate based on the volume of work you will bring them.
6. Indicate that you will not waste too many hours of the lawyer by ensuring that you jot down facts of the case clearly, bring witnesses to meet the lawyer, and keep handy all documents necessary for the case.
7. Save money by not wasting the lawyer’s time on phone calls. Remember he will bill you even if you are just having a friendly chat or are weeping on his shoulder. Prepare to be short and precise when you speak to him. As far as possible put things down on paper and send it to his office. E-mails work better than phone calls.
8. You know your case better than anyone else so make detailed notes and prepare a file for the lawyer with details such as names, addresses, what happen when and so on. This way you will not waster time meeting with the lawyer unless unavoidable.
9. Request for regular billing and keep track of the time, costs and so on. If you study the bills carefully and recognize
Always put things down in writing, especially the fee agreement. The agreement should include the rate, services covered, and what expenses are not covered by the agreed on fees and are to be paid at actual. In fact by law any legal fees over USD 1000 must be agreed upon in writing.
http://www.articlejoe.com/Article/10-Ways-to-Keep-Legal-Fees-Affordable/27739
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