The law intervenes in all areas of human life and although it may seem confusing and intimidating to those who are not familiar with it, most people will need the help of a lawyer at some point in their lives.
Although the law is full of concepts and terms that can seem ambiguous and seem to make a simple situation complicated, your first time hiring a lawyer does not have to be a bad experience Law tuition.
It is not your responsibility to understand all of these terms and procedures, but rather to do everything possible to find the lawyer that best suits your case and give them all the necessary information throughout the entire process.
Below you will find how to prepare, what you need to know, what tips to follow and what not to do to hire a lawyer calmly and efficiently.
What you need to know before hiring a lawyer
Keep in mind that hiring a lawyer is no different from hiring any other professional and a large part of hiring a good lawyer simply depends on using good common sense and not rushing.
Below you will find some of the things you should keep in mind before hiring a lawyer:
- Not all lawyers specialize in all areas
The law is broad and is divided into branches that govern different aspects of human life. Each branch is full of laws, rules and exceptions that lawyers must fully master in order to advise their clients.
For that reason, many lawyers specialize in specific branches. A divorce and alimony lawyer will not be able to help you if you have been accused of a crime, and a car accident lawyer will not be your best option if you are dealing with estate and will issues.
When you start looking for a lawyer, make sure they specialize in the right field and have experience dealing with cases like yours.
- Many lawyers answer initial questions by phone, mail, or offer a free first consultation
Contacting a lawyer does not mean committing yourself and being obliged to hire the first one who answers you. Lawyers are used to hearing a summary of your case and giving you information without this meaning that you are going to hire them.
Some lawyers even offer a free first in-person consultation , but keep in mind that the main goal of this consultation is to find out if they can help you and under what conditions. Don’t ask him to resolve your situation right away or give you all the information.
Questions for this first consultation:
- Are you used to dealing with cases like yours? Is this the right type of lawyer for you in this situation?
- What would be the steps to follow if you decided to hire him?
- What would be the price or how would the fees be calculated?
- Etc.
- Not all lawyers calculate their fees in the same way
Regardless of the legal terminology you have to deal with, this can be one of the most difficult parts of hiring a lawyer . Not everyone calculates their fees in the same way and in complicated cases it is difficult to estimate the total cost.
If these are common cases in which the procedure is clear, such as in the case of a divorce , your lawyer may give you a fixed fee for the entire process.
Many other attorneys work on an hourly basis, and the total fee depends on the number of hours the attorney has to devote to your case.
Finally, some work on a contingent fee basis, which means that they will not charge you a fee as such, but rather they will receive part of what you receive at the end of your case, as a percentage of the compensation for damages and prejudices, the first months of a pension. food, etc.
It is very important that everything related to fees appears clearly and detailed in the contract.
- It is always necessary to sign a contract
As when hiring any other professional, it is very important that there is a contract signed by both parties in which the conditions and costs of the entire process clearly appear. - Lawyers do more than sue and there may be better solutions to your problem.
Many associate lawyers with lawsuits as if it were the only way to resolve a case. Some consider this an aggressive way to solve their problem and decide never to hire a lawyer, while others hire one and require that the lawyer file a lawsuit.
Contact a no-obligation attorney, briefly describe your case, and tell them that you would like to know what your options would be before hiring them. Most lawyers are accustomed to answering questions before signing a contract, so don’t be afraid to ask.
- Other cases may arise beyond fees
As part of the legal process to resolve your case, you may have to notarize, legalize, translate, make certified copies, etc. Before you hire a lawyer, ask them to tell you if there will be any costs beyond the fees. - Legal cases are not sure things that anyone can guarantee you
When you hire a builder or a chef, you know with certainty what the result you will get will be. Unfortunately, legal cases depend on a large number of things, so it is impossible to be sure of the outcome. This is precisely why it is important to have the help of a good lawyer, but stay away from those who talk to you about the results as something 100% certain.