When it comes to the law, ignorance is not bliss. It’s downright dangerous. But since there are so many lawyers out there, some people think they can just find one when they need them and that will be enough. Unfortunately, it isn’t always that easy to find a good lawyer who knows your specific area of the law. And this is especially true if you are trying to get help with something like bankruptcy or workers compensation cases where you need an attorney in your particular state or county. You might have luck at first with any old lawyer but chances are they won’t be able to provide the level of expertise you really need for these complex problems. The best way around this is to make sure you know what to look for when searching for an attorney.
Here are a few pieces of advice that can save you a lot of money and hassle in the future.
1. Get Referrals From Others
Get referrals from trusted family members, friends, or co-workers who have had success with lawyers before in your area. If you don’t know anyone, the professionals at https://horne.law/ say that you can actually ask a law firm for a referral, especially if they don’t handle the sort of case you need help with. You may also want to call some law schools or check online reviews to see what people are saying about their education, how long they’ve been practicing law, etc. Avoid any lawyer who seems overly pushy, doesn’t return phone calls promptly—or at all—and anyone whose office is not conveniently located near where you live or work. Remember they are supposed to be on YOUR side so make sure you pick someone who cares about you!
2. Get It In Writing
If you’re getting a lawyer for the first time or if it’s for something major, ask them to draw up a written contract and sign it before they do any work for you. This is extremely important because there are times when lawyers will just stop showing up and you won’t be able to find them again! If this happens, you could be stuck in a legal nightmare with no one to help. It’s also helpful if the contract includes how much the attorney will get paid for what work and when they expect to get paid.
3. Read It and Understand It BEFORE You Sign It
Never sign anything or get any kind of document notarized without having an expert look it over. If it is incorrect, you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble by knowing that before you sign your name instead of after! And always keep copies so if anything does happen, you have proof of what was agreed upon in case there are any disputes later on down the line.”
It may seem like an obvious warning, but I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen lose their homes due to not understanding all of their foreclosure paperwork. When trying to make sense of any paperwork make sure you know what each number means and if anything seems wrong, don’t hesitate to call someone about it! People might try and confuse you by sending you several different documents at once so they can trick you into signing one of them without knowing it.
4. Exercise Your Right To Remain Silent
If you’ve been accused of a crime and you plan on pleading not guilty, don’t say anything to the police without speaking with your lawyer first. Anything you say can be used against you when it comes time for court, no matter how insignificant it may seem at the time. So just remain silent until your attorney arrives. It might even be helpful to write down everything that happens during any interactions with law enforcement so there’s less opportunity for them to change their story later!
5. Look to Legal Clinics for Help
If you are in need of legal advice or representation, but cannot afford an attorney—or if your case is too complicated for a public defender—you have several resources available to help find free or reduced-cost representation in your area. You could also check with your local bar association to find out if there are any legal clinics or volunteer programs in your area.
While it might seem like a good idea to hire an attorney who advertises on television, at the mall, or in magazines—or even one that has paid for endorsements from high-profile personalities citizens!—remember that they may not be able to provide you with the expertise you really need for their given field of law. Always do your research beforehand so you know what questions are important and whether this is someone you can trust with resolving something as serious as divorce or workplace harassment.
