Finding a great family lawyer can be hard to come by. Keep reading for 10 important steps to finding the best family lawyer.
The global legal services market is expected to grow to $1011 billion by 2021. The market growth has seen legal service firms strive to improve their productivity. If you’ve got a personal case that requires the best family lawyer, your chances of getting one are high.
The first step towards finding the best family lawyer is to know your needs and those of your family. Whether you have inheritance issues or are threatened with a divorce, get the best family lawyer.
Here are some ten essential steps to finding the best attorney. Read on!
1. Prepare Yourself for the Process
After you decide that you need the best family lawyer, there are a few things you need to do. First, consider the goals for your consultation. Do you want to seek general advice, or do you need some specific task done immediately?
This will determine whether you’ll go to the office or make a phone call. If you need representation, where is the court located? You may want to work with an out-of-town attorney.
For example, it could be that you want tips on how to represent yourself in court. Alternatively, maybe you want the attorney to draft an agreement for you.
Your Budget
After you’ve determined this, the next step is to set a budget. This should be a reasonable amount that can help you achieve your goals. The amount you set apart is a silent indicator of how important it is for you to win the case.
Knowing the amount you’re willing to spend will save you from overspending on your case.
Thirdly, consider your personality style. Would you like to have a lawyer who frequently updates you on what’s happening? Is your preference to “drop off and pick up” issues?
What’s your preferred mode of communication? Each firm has its personality style. Understanding your style will help you get the best out of the interaction.
However, preferences can vary depending on the case at hand. For example, in one case, you may prefer a more gentle approach while in another, aggression may work better.
2. Choosing the Best Family Lawyer
Now you know what you’re looking for and how much you’re willing to spend. It’s time to shop around for a lawyer. You can start by looking for recommendations from friends and family.
Seeking recommendations helps you narrow down your choices and identify the most suitable professional.
From the recommendations you get, choose a law firm that specializes in family law. A lawyer’s level of specialization will increase your chances of achieving success.
As a tip, go for a firm that provides multiple points of contact. It can be quite frustrating when you need some questions answered but can’t get a hold of your lawyer. A firm that offers various contact points is dedicated to having their client’s needs met at all times.
3. Meeting the Lawyer
You could make a phone call before the actual meeting. A short phone call gives you an overview as to whether you can work with the firm. Are they easy to understand, and do you like their style of working?
If you’re satisfied with these factors, arrange for a meeting where you can further discuss your needs.
4. Find out Their Specialty
You mentioned to your contacts that you’re looking for the best family lawyer. However, you still need to hear it from the lawyer. You might have come to a family lawyer but find out that they hardly practice family law.
It’d also be ideal to find out how regularly he handles family matters. If he hasn’t dealt with a case like yours, a lawyer with enough experience will know how to go about it.
While at this, you should find out how long they’ve specialized. Check their date of admission to see how long they’ve been practicing.
5. Discuss Money Issues
You already determined your budget but want to see if the lawyer you pick is within your range. Find out what their retainers are, both refundable and billable. Ask what this amount covers, the flat free rates if any, and everything they charge you for.
Do the charges come to you like a comprehensive or general bill? Are the costs calculated from a minimum time increment or for actual time spent on your case? All these are small details that matter because they could add up to a lot of money.
6. Listen to How They Approach Your Case
In matters of family law, there are differing views on what is defined as a win. For example, in the case of custody over children, the party that doesn’t get custodial rights may feel aggrieved. It can result in a conflict which will ultimately hurt the children in question.
Be careful about a lawyer who promises you’ll get everything you want. A fierce litigator can’t be a collaborative negotiator in the same case. Some firms like Family Lawyers Verhaeghe Law Office have subspecialists such as experts, litigators, and negotiators, allowing their clients to find the right professional.
Let the lawyer tell you the possible outcomes of your case. While some cases could take a few months to resolve, others may take several years. Depending on the facts and proof you provide, the firm should be able to hint what you should expect.
7. What is the Major Problem They Foresee in Your Case?
Every case is unique can presents its fair share of challenges. If your attorney says there are no problems in your case, they might not be the best for you. Take note that not all problems are serious, with some being easier to overcome than others.
Look at this example. You could be having an uncontested absolute divorce case, but your partner doesn’t want to get served. In such a case, the course can’t grant you the divorce before the other party is served.
Knowing what the costs would be in such a case is useful for your planning purposes.
8. Find out Who’ll Be Working on Your Case
You could be talking to one lawyer today, but a different one shows up in court. You need to know whether other attorneys in the office will stand in for your lawyer once in a while. Other vital factors are general turn-around time on communication.
On matters communication, whom will you call when the need arises? Does the attorney check his email or has an assistant for that? Knowing about the day-to-day communication will help you understand what to expect in urgent situations.
9. Choose Another Lawyer from the Firm
The first step towards winning is establishing a good relationship with your attorney. After you’ve determined that you’ve found the best family lawyer, ensure you can work together. How the lawyer talks to you or answers your question is an indication of what you can expect.
If you’re not comfortable with the attorney you first meet up with, don’t be afraid to ask for a replacement. Specialist firms will have several solicitors. It’s in their best interest to ensure you find the right one.
10. Presenting Your Case
Your lawyer will ask you several questions concerning your case. You’re required to gather details about the case that may have slipped away from your mind. Your lawyer will expect you to answer them honestly and accurately.
It would help if you can go through the details of your case in advance. Don’t ignore the minor things as they could spell the difference between winning and losing the case.
This is where your documents come in handy. If your lawyer doesn’t tell you which documents to carry for the first meeting, decide on your own. An online search can help make the decision easier.
After making the decision, make copies of all documents. Since you may visit more than one attorney’s office, it’s best that you have more than one copy with you. Remember to leave all the original documents at home to avoid losing them in any case.
Only carry the originals when asked by your attorney or the court. Ensure to have them handed back to you after the session.
Summing Up
Finding the best family lawyer is the first step towards guaranteeing the best outcome in a family case. Your family and their future are important. When legal issues arise, it’s only fair that you get the best solicitor to help resolve them.
It’s crucial that you know why you need a lawyer in the first place. Do you just need advice on your case, or is there something specific you want the lawyer to do for you? Ask for recommendations from your contacts as this will help narrow down your choices.
Upon scheduling an appointment with the lawyer, ask all the relevant questions. Do they specialize in family law? How much are their charges, and what do they think the outcome on your case will be?
Once you decide on the lawyer to work with, put all the details of your case together. Having them ready will help the lawyer build up a strong case for you. Once you know you’ve got the best lawyer, cooperate with them, and let them help you win the case.
If you have any thoughts, be sure to share them in the comments.
If you’ve suffered severe or long-term injuries while on public or work property or you believe your injury was the fault of someone else, it could be a good idea to hire a personal injury lawyer.
Personal injury cases are complicated and trying to handle a claim yourself could wind up getting you an extremely low pay-out as a nuisance claim paid by an insurance company just to make you go away.
Only 4-5% of personal injury claims go to trial. The rest are settled out of court. Of the cases that do go to court, 90% lose. A good personal injury lawyer can help you avoid going to trial and get you maximum compensation for your claim.
Keep reading for times it’s necessary to hire a personal injury lawyer and find out why it is advised over trying to represent yourself.
1. If an Injury Has Affected Your Ability to Work
If you’ve suffered a long-term injury that has caused you to miss work, and you believe someone else is at fault, the expertise of a personal injury lawyer will help to calculate the total amount of compensation you are entitled to.
Unless you have a law background yourself, you won’t be equipped to fully understand the implications of the injury and how it affects your income long-term.
You might end up missing out on available compensation without professional legal representation.
2. If You Believe Your Injury Was Someone Else’s Fault
The most common types of personal injury cases are motor vehicle accidents, work-related injuries, medical malpractice, and negligence.
If you believe you have been injured under any of these circumstances, and you have proof, it’s very likely you are entitled to compensation.
However, no personal injury case is as simple as it seems. Most insurance companies will do whatever they can do to deny a claim. This is where the expertise of a lawyer comes in.
3. If You May Have Been Partially At Fault
Especially in messy motor vehicle accidents where there is more than one injured party, you could be partially at fault for your own injuries, as well as the injuries of other involved parties.
In these cases, it is especially helpful to hire a personal injury lawyer, as they have the experience and expertise to protect you against counter-claims. They also understand how to preserve and present evidence.
4. If You’re Worried About Money
Trying to represent yourself could end up costing you more. Most personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis, meaning they only collect fees if they win your case. There is usually no fee required up front.
If you try to handle your own case, not only is there a higher chance of losing, it can also end up costing you more time and money than it’s worth. Especially if there are counter-claims involved.
5. If Your Injuries Are Severe
Insurance companies assess injury cases based on the type of injury sustained, the amount paid in medical bills and total recovery time. In some cases, severe injuries can exceed the limits of the at-fault person’s insurance policy.
A personal injury lawyer knows how to navigate through the red tape of insurance policies and will work on your behalf to ensure you receive the total amount of compensation for costs incurred, even if it exceeds the policy.
6. If You Are Not Comfortable with The Legal Process
Most people have very little understanding of how the law actually works. While it might be tempting to try to avoid the costs of a lawyer when dealing with a personal injury claim, your lack of expertise could end up costing you much more.
A personal injury lawyer will bring years of experience to the table and will know how to negotiate and handle complex situations that almost definitely will arise during the claim process.
7. If an Insurance Company Has Agreed to Pay You a Low Amount
Often times when unrepresented people file a claim, the at-fault party’s insurance company will view the claim as unworthy of their time.
This is because they are assuming (often correctly) that a person without legal representation has little or no understanding of the law and won’t have the knowledge or resources to fight back.
These small claim payments are referred to as nuisance payments. It’s when an insurance company offers a ridiculously low amount as a pay-off to make the claim ‘go away’.
Hiring a lawyer will eliminate this risk altogether. Insurance companies respond a lot better to professional lawyers as they know a lawyer has the means to win.
8. If You’re Being Wrongfully Sued
If someone has filed a claim against you and you want to dispute it, a personal injury lawyer can save you a huge amount of time, headache and possibly money.
Disputing a case yourself, especially against someone who is represented by legal counsel will not end well.
Even if you know you are not at fault, disputing a claim is a long and arduous process and is best handled by a professional.
9. If an Insurance Company Refuses to Pay
If you’ve tried to handle a case yourself and the at-fault party’s insurance company refuses to pay, this is the time to hire a personal injury lawyer.
Insurance companies will refuse to pay for any reason they can. If they are denying their client’s liability, you will have to enter into a complex appeal process that could end up in court.
A lawyer will know what evidence to provide and how to present it in a way that can protect you.
Other Reasons to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
They have experience that you do not. They know how to negotiate, investigate and present information in a way that will maximize the chances of winning your case.
You have nothing to lose by hiring a lawyer. Since most personal injury lawyers don’t take payment until the settlement is won, you won’t have to pay a penny if your case doesn’t win.
Do your research and choose a lawyer with experience in the specific area of your personal injury claim. Choose one who you can be open and honest with, and who has a track record of success.
If you don’t know where to start, visit these lawyers who have a proven high success rate for personal injury cases and work on a contingency basis.
To Summarize
20 to 50 Americans per year get severely injured in motor vehicle accidents alone. Hiring a personal injury lawyer can be the difference between getting properly compensated and being left to deal with the aftermath of an injury yourself.
We hope this article cleared up any confusion around hiring a lawyer versus trying to handle a personal injury claim yourself. Visit our business blog for more information on how to find a good lawyer.
When accidents occur, victims usually have many questions: how do they get compensated? Should a doctor be consulted? Should a lawyer handle the case? The truth is; cases that have to do with accidents and personal injury need to be handled by attorneys. An experienced legal professional will help answer your questions and address all your concerns. Here are three reasons why a lawyer should back your case.
Denial of Liability
Insurance companies may deny a claim by stating that you were the one responsible for the accident. In most cases, these companies do so to frustrate you so you can drop your claim. However, if they realized that you are not giving up your claim, they’ll come around and offer a reasonable settlement.
If the insurance firm doesn’t change its mind regarding its denial of liability, you may seek help from an accident and injury law group. At that point, you don’t have anything to lose. If the lawyers are capable of squeezing money out of the insurance company, you’ll be in a position to get some compensation. If they work on a contingency basis and you end up not getting any compensation, then you don’t have a thing to lose since you’ll not have any attorney’s fee to pay.
Litigation Process
In many instances involving serious injuries, a settlement from your insurance company may not be adequate to cover all your losses. As a result, you may end up filing a personal injury lawsuit. An experienced attorney can be helpful since they’ll advise if filing a lawsuit is the right step to take. Moreover, an attorney will guide you through the litigation process to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Litigation processes are often involving since they require evidence collection to support your claims as well as your losses.
You Require Advice on a Certain Legal Rule
In some cases, the failure or success of your lawsuit will depend on a particular legal rule. For instance, the decision whether or not you are to collect insurance from a company depends on whether their employee was in the line of duty when the accident occurred. There are technical rules about what the scope and course of employment are. If you get injured on the sidewalk, the aspect of liability may revolve around questions of property law.
In one of these circumstances, you may need to consult an attorney on an hourly basis to get a feel of what your legal options may be. That way, you can then decide if it’s the right choice to file a lawsuit. If your claim seems to depend on a particular legal question, it may be a good idea to hire a lawyer to guide you through the entire process.
Having an attorney in your personal injury case is always advantageous if you’ve been injured, lost wages, and have adequate medical bills to settle. If you are facing one or all of these circumstances, it makes sense to have an expert who can give you the peace of mind you need when handling cases of personal injury. The above are perhaps the best reasons why you’ll want an attorney backing your injury case.
Most people are unaware of just how dangerous driving on the roadways can be until it is too late. Being involved in an accident can be a very stressful and scary experience. If you are badly injured in the accident, then you may need to seek compensation for the pain and suffering you have experienced. In order to get the right advice in a matter like this, you will need to find a law professional in your area. Here are a few of the reasons why you need to hire an accident attorney like the ones at Woodgrange Solicitors.
The Knowledge Needed
One of the first reasons to hire a car accident attorney is the knowledge they have regarding the statutes and laws pertaining to your case. There are a number of different laws out there that spell out the compensation you are entitled to and in order to have a chance of winning you will need to know these laws. Hiring a lawyer will allow you to start developing the case you need to get the money you need. The last thing you want to do is to try and handle this type of case on your own due to your lack of knowledge about the laws.
A Dollar Amount on Your Injuries
Another very helpful thing a lawyer can do for you is to put a dollar amount on the injuries you have. There are very strict law that dictate how much financial compensation you are entitled to. Your lawyer will be able to take those laws and apply them to your injuries. This is the only way you will be able to get the right amount of compensation. Make sure you are forthcoming with the lawyer about the accident and how it has affected you.
Help With Negotiations
When hiring a lawyer to help with your case, you will also be able to take advantage of the skills they have in negotiating settlements. Generally speaking, these types of cases are usually settled outside of court, which is why you need a lawyer who can negotiate the terms of the settlement. Most of the insurance companies out there want to undercompensate you in order to grow their own bottom line. There are a number of things that can go wrong when trying to handle this process on your own, which is why you need a professional.
If you have been involved in a car accident and need advice on whether to pursue a lawsuit, be sure to call on professionals.
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