“PREPARATION IS KEY”
by Contributor
(Mar. 30, 2018) — Life has a nasty habit of throwing you a curve ball once in a while. You’re happily going about your day to day business, dropping the kids off at school, heading into your favorite coffee shop for your usual takeaway latte, when you could suddenly be involved in an accident . One broken leg, hefty hospital bills, and now he’s saying he’s going to press charges. You have lived all your life as a law-abiding citizen, and now you need help, fast. So, what should you look for when choosing legal representation?
Think local
First of all, make sure that you choose a firm that is local to you. A local law center will understand the law pertaining to your jurisdiction. Traffic offenses in Alabama are not necessarily exactly the same as traffic offenses in Alaska. Also, it is convenient to be able to get to your attorney’s offices within a matter of minutes for face to face meetings. During a face to face meeting, you can check out your attorney’s office to judge whether the staff appears competent and helpful and if the office seems well run and efficient.
Clear communication
When you first contact a law firm, such as the Grieco Law Center, consider how easy it is to get the answers you need. Make sure that you feel confident that you understand what you’re hearing and are not bamboozled by legal jargon. Does your attorney return your calls, send letters when they say they will, and give you all the paperwork you need to progress with your case? Don’t hold back from asking for clarity and explanations if anything is unclear to you – this might be your first brush with the law, but your attorney may have been in the business for years and forgotten how unfamiliar legal jargon can be. You need a legal team who focus on the seriousness of your situation and always strive for clear communication.
Upfront pricing
Justice can come with a hefty price tag, but you are paying for your attorney’s years of training, expertise, and experience. Make sure you choose legal representatives who are upfront and honest about their fees. Check to see if the pricing is clear for all the legwork your legal team may have to do – how much do they charge per phone call, per letter, per face to face visit? Do they simply charge an hourly rate? The cost depends on your case, too. With most personal injury cases, the lawyer takes a percentage of the settlement. Civil cases, such as divorce, real estate disputes, and child custody disagreements are often billed at an hourly rate. Or your lawyer might request that you pay him or her a retainer – a certain number of hours at a particular set price. The most complicated pricing comes when faced with a criminal case, as these can be very complicated. Bear in mind that a lower priced professional may take twice as long as a higher priced one because of their inexperience, so don’t choose your attorney on price alone.
A wealth of experience
Make sure that your lawyer has experience in the area you need help with. Are you accused of driving under the influence? Have you had a brush with a narcotics offense? Are you suspected of fraud? Make sure that your defense attorney has the recent and relevant experience to inspire you with confidence when it comes to defending you. Make sure that your attorney has had at least ten years’ experience in the field. Then you can be confident that they have dealt with situations like yours countless times before. If possible, ask if you can speak with your attorney’s former clients as a reference. Or your attorney may have written references you can view. Certain websites even offer the opportunity to rate their experiences with different lawyers, so see if you can find yours online too and read their reviews.
On your side
You want an attorney who is tenacious and who will stand up for you in pressurized situations. Make sure that you feel fully confident in your legal team’s tenacity and determination to protect your rights and build your defense. Does your attorney have a strong voice that is assertive and makes people sit up and listen? Do they prevent themselves from being interrupted or stopped mid-flow, but continue making their point persistently? Are they coherent and fluent when they speak? You need a lawyer whose body language as well as their speech conveys their strength of character and confidence, not a shy wallflower who will fade into the background and not be taken seriously. Remember, you have the right to change your lawyer at any time if you suspect that they are not fully on your side.
Ready and available
You need a lawyer who is available to return your calls, write correspondence when necessary, and who fulfills their obligations when they say they will. If you get answerphone messages time after time, that may be indicative that your attorney is too busy to devote the full time and attention to your case that you need. As a good benchmark, your attorney should reply to a phone call or other inquiry within 24 hours (excepting weekends of course. Even lawyers need a break). Ask how long your attorney aims to return inquiries, and make sure that they stick to their promise.
Finding yourself on the wrong side of the law is an intimidating experience, but with the right defense attorney by your side, you can be prepared. With any situation such as this, preparation is key, and is necessary, as you will be able to handle and take on whatever comes your way. Of course, this may involve time, research, and some hard work on your part, but this will most definitely be worth it in the long run, as you will be comfortable with who you chose, and will know you stand the best chance.