Choosing the Right Attorney is an Important Decision
Finding an attorney is a simple as an Internet search, but finding the right attorney is a process. Regardless of what method you choose to solve your legal problems, it is a very important decision. As they say, not all attorneys are created equal.
Many factors enter into the decision to find the right attorney. At SA, we are diligent in maintaining relationships with what we consider some of the stellar and brilliant minds domestically and internationally. Our continued guarantee to bring the best professionals to the table stands strong without complaint with our clients.
Here are some of the considerations that we take into place when choosing our advisors.
Type of Problem – Are you aware of what type of attorney you need? You many know the general practice area, but you must also realize that there are specialists within the practice area. The practice of law is similar to medicine in that you would not have a foot surgeon perform brain surgery. If you do not understand the complexity of your situation, you would be advised to consult more then one attorney or seek the help of someone who can provide accurate guidance.
It should also be known that there are attorneys who practice general law (again like general medicine). For small businesses, a jack-of-all-trades may curb costs and get things on the right track.
Resources for Finding an Attorney –
SA References – SA can provide the benefits of our advisers and out completed due diligence. We remain steadfast to our guarantee that every client is satisfied.
Martindale Hubbell – Martindale Hubbell is a directory of attorneys who rank other attorneys. All attorneys have to be certified by the American Bar Association and the Bar maintains the standing of the license of the attorney. It may sound simple, but there are attorneys with complaints, suspensions and disbarments who continue to practice. Attorneys are ranked on performance on the A, B, C, D school system and for ethics; they can receive a “v” for very good. It is possible that a good attorney may not be listed on Martindale Hubbell, but in this case, more due diligence is needed.
The Bar Association – You can check with the Bar in your state to find out if the attorney of your choice is in good standing. Lawyers are often members of councils and specialty groups that may also provide references.
Peer Reference – Attorneys use referrals all of the time, but beware, this is probably not the most secure way to choose an attorney. If one attorney recommends another, make sure that you perform some independent due diligence for added security.
Personal Reference – If you have a friend who had a good experience, then it is possible that you might also. Just make sure that the legal issue matches the attorney’s specialty and that the situation is similar. If an attorney took your friends case pro bono (without fee), that does not necessarily mean the same for you. Read the fine lines on all agreements.
Fees – The subject of fees is going to come, sooner is better then later. To say that attorneys just make too much money is not really a fair statement. What is fair to say is that an attorney should be worth the fee that they have earned. Many people think that they can attorneys to work on their cases and their problems on a contingency basis. This is only true in rare circumstances in law, such as personal injury and the real reason for this is that certain things are a “given” such as some types of monetary damages, which make it a gaining venture for an attorney. Usually they are the cases, “you pay only if we win for you.”
The maximum fee that can be charged by law for a personal injury case is 1/3rd of the net recovery (the gross recovery less expenses). This maximum fee applies to all cases except medical, dental or podiatric malpractice cases. In those cases, attorneys are limited to a sliding scale starting at 30% of the net recovery for the first $250,000 recovered and reducing to 10% for amounts over $1.25 Million Dollars. For other matters such as Workers’ Compensation, Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income claims, fees are set by the judge or by the law.
Attorneys can bill by the hour, (called billable hours), as a flat fee, or a combination of using a retainer by logging billable hours. In any event, you should know what type of fee structure that your attorney has for your situation since billable hours could be anywhere from $250 an hour to $1200 and hour with added fees for investigation, consultation and travel or other expenses.
Watch out for renewable retainers, such as $1,000 per month and watch out for a blank right to add support staff and paralegals. An unsuspecting consumer can become drained due to the meaning of what is between the lines.
The best situation you can be in with an attorney is to be upfront and honest. This person has to represent you and they can only do so at their best, when they have knowledge of your true situation.
Keep all of your paperwork and keep a file going to help with anything that an attorney may need from you. A good client is the best advantage of a good attorney.
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