Do you think you have a legal problem? The best way to know this is to ask a lawyer. But how do you find a good one? Well, hopefully this will give you some advice on choosing your lawyer.
To start with, most of the personal injury lawyers and criminal defence attorneys in Philadelphia will give you a “free” consultation as a guide to deciding if you have a case. Firstly, try to speak to several different lawyers and listen to their response sas this will help you to determine if you have a legal problem and if they can help.
Once you have decided to call some, the next stage is to decide which ones. This can be tricky and our advice is to ask people you trust, like your associates, your parents, friends, teachers and your boss. Ask them if they have used a lawyer and if so, were they good. Use the local telephone directory or the yellow pages or you can even ask the Bar Association for recommendations.
When you have decided which one to hire, you need to meet them to see if you still have the same feeling that they are the one you wish to use. Obviously the best way to do this is to meet with them, but before you do, ask them if there is any charge for the first consultation/visit.
If there is find out how much this is. After meeting them and if you decide to hire them you will need to deal with the issue of fees and costs for your case. Ask for an estimated costing which most lawyers will be able to provide to you in writing.Make sure you ask good and pertinent questions relating to the facts and any legal issues dealing with the facts of your situation. There are some really good questions you can ask your lawyer if you need to have some ideas before you walk into their office.
“Is this something you often deal with?” - this is an obvious one as it tells you if they are used to dealing with your particular kind of legal issue. This is intended to help both you and the lawyer know if they can handle this issue.
If the lawyer you are talking with is unsure if they would be able to deal with it, ask them if there is another lawyer within the firm that could.“What results can I expect?” If you have supplied the lawyer with enough facts, they should be able to give you an idea of the outcome of your case. It is vital that you both understand what you hope to achieve and can realistically expect from the outcome of the case.
“How much will this cost?” This is a really big one as you need to have an overall idea of costs so you can decide if you can afford to proceed. Most lawyers will want a retainer fee. This is an upfront deposit as a portion of their fee.