Questions to Ask a Lawyer
October 4, 2018You should never hire the first lawyer that you see in a phone book when you are in desperate need of legal representation. You need to be very patient and consider many different factors before you settle on a particular lawyer. This is because your choice of legal counsel is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. This is especially true if the case is very important and there is a lot at stake. Here are a few of the most crucial questions that you need to pose to any lawyer you are seriously thinking about retaining as your legal counsel.
- How many other cases like mine have you dealt with before in your career?
This first thing you will need to do is make sure that the lawyer you are talking to has an adequate about of knowledge in the area of the law that your case falls under. Ideally, you should only hire a lawyer who has personally handled dozens of cases that are similar to the one that you need help with. This will ensure that he or she knows all of the common occurrences that happen in court during your type of case. Experience is the most critical asset to find when you are looking for a competent maritime injury lawyer.
- What is your strategy for my case?
You will need to schedule a consultation with each lawyer you are considering. This consultation will be free in the vast majority of cases. You will describe all of the details of your case to the lawyer. He or she will let you know if you have legal grounds for a case. If the lawyer says that you should move forward with legal action, you need him or her to describe their strategy for your case in great detail. Basically, you need to know how the lawyer plans on winning your case if you go to court. You can then compare the strategies of the lawyers you meet with. Simon & O’Rourke Law Firm, P.C. has a stellar reputation of winning large settlements for their clients.
- How do you expect to be paid?
Another one of the topics they will be discussed during your initial consultation will involve how much the lawyer will charge and how he or she wants to be paid. In some cases, you might find a lawyer who will agree to only accept payment if he or she wins your case. This is called being paid on a contingency basis. It would be in your best interests to shop around for the best price. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by doing this. You can save a lot of money.