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Do you need a good attorney to help you with a pressing legal issue? Finding a lawyer is not an easy task. Not only is the industry inundated with potential candidates, but when you're feeling the stress of a legal situation, it's easy to make a fast, uninformed decision. Using resources like a lawyer referral service in Austin, TX, is a great way to start the search, but you need to know what to do with the information you receive. Here are some suggestions to help you find a competent lawyer to help you with your legal issues by using a referral program. Why Do You Need a Lawyer? This may seem like a silly question, but you need to understand exactly why you need a lawyer to know which type of legal professional to hire. For example, are you and your spouse going through a divorce and you need a lawyer to help you with child custody issues? In a situation like this, you will need a civil lawyer who has experience with family law. Are you facing DUI charges or possible being investigated for fraud? These kinds of legal issues require a criminal attorney to help you face the charges being brought against you. Choosing the appropriate lawyer will ensure that you’re getting the best representation possible. Referral services will often categorize the attorneys listed making it easier to narrow down the choices. Where Is Your Case Being Heard? First and foremost, it’s important that the attorney you choose is licensed to practice in the state where the court case is being heard. Secondly, it’s important to choose an attorney who has experience hearing cases in the county or municipality where your case is being heard. Why is this so important? While the laws of the state do not vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, you want a lawyer who is familiar with the judges, court clerks, and other lawyers that may be involved with the case. This added degree of familiarity can help your case exponentially. Interview 2-3 Lawyers Before making a decision about who to hire for legal representation, it’s important that you interview 2-3 lawyers who are qualified to hear your case. While all cases are time sensitive, it is critical to the success of your case that you do not rush into hiring an attorney. Rushing the process could harm your case, because you may end up hiring a lawyer who doesn’t have experience trying cases like yours or an attorney who has a large caseload and cannot give your case the attention it requires. During the interview process, ask the lawyers the following questions: - What is your current caseload?
- How many cases have you tried similar to mine?
- What is your rate?
- Do you charge by the case or an hourly rate?
- Will you be handling the majority of the case (research, filings, etc.,) or will legal secretaries and clerks be communicating with me more?
- How do you communicate with your clients? Do you prefer telephone, email, or text communications?
- What is your normal response time when returning telephone calls or electronic communications?
Asking these questions will help you determine which lawyer is the best fit for you and your case. While you may think that contacting a lawyer referral service in Austin, TX, is the only step you need to take to secure legal representation, it isn’t. Referral services provide names of attorneys licensed to practice law in the state. It is up to you to make sure that the lawyer you choose has the experience and competence to adequately represent you. Research your choices wisely to give you a better shot at obtaining the outcome you desire from your court case.
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