Not every lawyer you come across is the right one for you. True, you will find a license on their office walls and they have gone through law school. That is not sufficient for them to deal with the matters at hand. You need to take time and investigate several law firms and ask some questions. By virtue of their professional ethics, most lawyers will do everything within their power to protect a good reputation. They know that you have been referred by someone and will do well to be honest with you.
Here are some tips to assist you:
Colleagues, family and friends: This is an ideal place to begin your search for a lawyer. The good thing about asking such close people is that there is always a possibility of coming across someone who has dealt with an attorney before. Even if they have not, they do know a person with such an interaction. With the lawyer Idaho Falls referrals have given you, the task becomes easy.
One-on-one meetings: After getting about three or four such referrals, you need to arrange for short meetings with each lawyer. Use this as an opportunity to meet the person face to face and ask as many questions as you like. These visits will help you gauge whether the person is readily available, know who will handle your case and the level of experience they have in such matters. You will find that there are many attorneys who are ready to meet you. Again, most of them do not charge for the first consultation.
Background: Just like an interviewer checks the background of potential candidates, you too need to do the same. Conduct your own research by examining the experience, education and reputation of the Idaho Falls lawyer you intend to hire. If the legal firm has a website, check whether there are any reviews written about it and pay attention to what they say. If the attorneys mentioned any clients they have previously dealt with, call the clients and ask for their opinion.
State of the legal firm: As you visit every lawyer, Idaho Falls legal firms are not the same, you should keenly make some observations. Check for neatness, general overview of the office and how the staff treats you. Look around at the furniture, wall hangings and the interior décor. Observe how the attorney is dressed whether he or she is in neat clothing, polished shoes and so on.
Charges: Do not leave a lawyer’s office before you get an estimate of the cost. Besides that, ask how the fee is levied. Is it a flat, hourly or contingent rate? From there, go to your state’s bar agency and check what the rates should be. Compare this with what you have been charged.
