Whether you’re getting a divorce, contesting a will, filing a lawsuit against someone, or you’ve been charged with a crime, you need a lawyer. The preceding examples are just 4 reasons you may need a lawyer, but there are many more instances that require legal assistance. If you find yourself in a situation that requires hiring a lawyer, you’ll have plenty of attorneys in the Texas Baytown area to choose from. However, with so many options, how do you know you’re picking the right legal professional? Here are 5 qualities of great attorneys to help make the selection process stress-free. Expertise At a minimum, the attorney you choose will have the educational requirement necessary by law, but this isn’t enough. Ask yourself the following questions. Why do I need a lawyer? Are you being charged with a criminal offense? Are you creating a small business and need help forming your organization? A criminal attorney cannot help you with business law, and a small business attorney can’t help you with a DWI charge. Make sure you choose a lawyer with the expertise that matches your legal needs. Good Communication Skills You should expect your lawyer to be able to communicate well with you. Unfortunately, there are plenty of lawyers who have inept communication skills. Sometimes new lawyers haven’t developed that professional rapport with their clients; whereas seasoned lawyers may have gotten lazy and depend more on their legal staff to deal with clients. It’s important that you feel like the lawyer you choose is listening to you and willing to work with you. If the lawyer you select doesn’t feel like a good match, don’t be afraid to look for other representation. Just make sure you change lawyers sooner rather than later as to not affect your case too much. Availability Some lawyers will continue to take on new clients even though they already have many cases that require their attention. When lawyers take on many cases, it’s hard to give each case the individualized attention they deserve. Another thing to consider is whether or not the lawyer keeps office hours that fit into your schedule. It’s a misconception that all attorneys only work 9-5. There are many attorneys who have evening hours and weekend hours (typically Saturdays) to meet the specific needs of their clients. Affordable Rates Many people are scared to hire an attorney when they need one because they are afraid of the costs associated with attaining representation. Attorneys have a reputation for charging hundreds of dollars an hour. Sure, there are attorneys that charge outrageous prices, but that isn’t the rule. You don’t have to go bankrupt or take out a second mortgage to find a great attorney. There are plenty of attorneys practicing law that work for a flat fee or a reasonable hourly rate. References A great attorney will be more than happy to provide potential clients with references. You may be hesitant to ask for references because of lawyer-client confidentiality. However, this confidentiality clause doesn’t mean that an attorney won’t be able to give you references. Many lawyers will ask if clients if they will consent to being used as a reference. While the lawyer won’t discuss the specifics of the previous client’s case, he or she can provide you with contact information. Now that you know the 5 top qualities of great lawyers, you still have to create a list of potential attorneys. To find experienced attorneys in Texas Baytown, to help you achieve your legal goals, contact the state bar association for a list of referrals to attorneys that practice law in your location.
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