Tips For Finding an Attorney
For many, finding an attorney can be a daunting process. Usually, people do not start looking for an attorney to represent them until a conflict or an issue has occurred. In that case, not only do they have to deal with the toll of a conflict on their mental, emotional and financial health, now they have the added stress of looking for an attorney who can help. Continue reading for a few tips to make your search for an attorney less stressful.
Tip One: Summarize your story. When a traumatic life event or conflict occurs, it can be hard to simplify the details into a summary. Even though it may be difficult, it is very important that you try to create a sufficient version of the conflict. By thinking about what is most important in the conflict, you will have an easier time explaining the basic facts to potential attorneys. In turn, a simple summary will help potential attorneys better identify whether they can help you. When you are creating a summary of the issue, focus on the facts and the order that events happened. Try to tell your story chronologically. It is helpful to type or write this summary down. Once you find the right attorney for you, you can tell them the full story and include how those facts and events made you feel.
Tip Two: Start your search for an attorney online. For those comfortable with the internet, start by a simple search using key words from your conflict. It can be helpful to include the state and county or city where you live or where the conflict arose to narrow your search results. If you know whether your case is a civil or criminal matter, that information will further refine your search results. Include other key words based on the summary of your story. Issues can be employment related, family related, estate planning related, and many others. When you are comfortable with your search terms, click different websites and start to read about the attorneys you find. While you are reading you may find key words that more accurately describe your issue than you could come up with yourself. Feel free to include those terms in your search. The more thoroughly you read potential attorneys’ websites, the more quickly you can develop a small list of attorneys who may be able to help you.
Tip Three: Consider the geographic location of potential attorneys and their offices. Litigation is not quick, and you will likely have to take several trips to your attorney’s office. It’s important that you choose an attorney who you can travel easily. At the same time, you should also look for an attorney to whom is located in or near the county where your conflict arose. Your attorney may have to appear in the courthouse in the county where the conflict took place. If you choose an attorney who is located far away, you will have to pay a larger travel fee than an attorney who is close by.
Tip Four: When you have a short list of potential attorneys, call their offices for more information. When you call,you will likely talk to a receptionist who will want basic information about you. This information might include your name, contact information, and a summary of your issue. If you have already thought about the most important parts of your story, this step will be easier. When you talk to attorneys be sure to ask about their fee structure and ask whether an initial consultation is free or billed to you.
Tip Five: Do not be discouraged. Because the law is so complicated, attorneys often focus on rather small areas of the law. Additionally, attorneys often focus on either criminal or civil law, not both. This means that not every lawyer you call will be able to help you with your specific issue. If you call an attorney’s office and the attorneys there do not practice the kind of law you need, ask them if they know of another attorney or office that could help you. It may be frustrating, but you may have to call several attorneys to find the right one that can help you. By thoroughly reading the websites of potential attorneys, you may be able to tell whether an attorney practices the area of law where your conflict lies. This is another reason why a short summary of your case is valuable. By being able to summarize your story, you save yourself time when you are trying to find an attorney who can help. Now that you know a few tips for searching for an attorney, you may have questions about a legal issue. Contact an attorney at Kelly & Brand, Attorneys at Law, LLC for sound legal advice tailored to your unique situation.
