Lawyers. They are smart, they have a stereotype of being conniving, and may be necessary for you.
No one really wants to find themselves in a position where they need a lawyer. But, sometimes, you have no choice unless you want to defend yourself.
Once you decide you need a Townsville lawyer, the process of hiring a lawyer begins. But, what do you look for? How do you know that a lawyer is right for you?
These are four of the things to look out for.
1. Relevant Experience
Something you should find out from a potential lawyer before you hire them is how much experience they have. They might have had hundreds of cases. We have over 50 years combined experience in personal A&E Legal Bunbury and compensation claims, so we can make sure you receive the maximum compensation you deserve. They might be brand new to the field.
However, it is not only experience that is needed, but experience related to your case. Let’s say a lawyer specializes in divorce cases, but you need a lawyer to help fight a drug possession charge? This may not end up being the best fit for you.
However, if you needed someone to represent your personal injury case, then someone who can show you the benefits of hiring a personal injury lawyer would be your best bet.
2. Record in Court
Just as important as the overall experience, this asks the question of how successful has your potential lawyer been representing clients?
Let’s say a lawyer has had 100 cases in the past and another one has had 25. BUT, the lawyer with 100 cases has only won 20 of them. The lawyer with 25 cases has also won 20 of them.
In this case, the first lawyer may have more experience, but the second lawyer would be the more desirable one because that lawyer has an 80% chance of winning your case going to court.
Do not be afraid to ask about a lawyer’s track record in court. The more confident ones will proudly share their success.
3. Price of Services
For a lot of you, a major factor in your lawyer decision will be how much your legal representation is going to cost. The average hourly rate nationally is $225.
If you are in for a long case, this can really add up. While it is important to get good legal representation, you cannot put yourself in a position where even if you win the case, you will be in constant legal fee debt.
Establish a budget for your lawyer and find out if they do flat fee services if you think that could be a cheaper option.
4. Who Do You Know?
This mainly factors in for smaller towns or lawyers who tend to represent a lot of people in the same industry. Depending on your case, it may be important to ask a potential lawyer who they have spoken to and who they know.
If that lawyer has professionally spoken to someone you are challenging or a personal member of the opposing party, then that may be a conflict of interest.
It is better to find that out early than in the middle of proceedings.
Read More About Hiring a Lawyer
These are just four of the tips you could use when it comes to hiring a lawyer. There are many more, but the ones above can make or break not only your experience in court but also what your life might be like after court.
Do you want to know even more? Read our Business and Lifestyle sections to discover more things to watch.
