Choosing an attorney is a bit like choosing a member of your family. You need to find someone you get along with and trust. They need to be attentive to your needs and not only their own. Why? Because they will be intimately involved in protecting the most fundamental needs in your life, which is what your legal needs represent. This is the core of legal representation – stepping into the shoes of someone else so completely that the legal system allows one person to advocate in the place of another.
If I can help you, please contact me. Please follow these important tips to help you find a relationship which will be right for you.
1. Select an attorney whom you have spoken with or met.
This is a bare-bones minimum. You need to get a feel for the attorney and who they are. You will be working with this person, sometimes for years, and you need to be comfortable with the attorney's demeanor, perspective, and approach. Are they authentic? Are they sharp? Hire someone who fits your conception of a good person. Good people make good lawyers.
2. Select an attorney who will return your calls.
How long does the attorney take to get back to you? As a policy, I return all calls the day that I get them. This is a good practice, and a good way to judge an attorney. If you are ignored and find yourself wondering why you haven’t heard from the attorney, look elsewhere.
3. Select an attorney who treats you and your case with respect.
You are important. Your legal needs are important. If the attorney ignores you at the beginning of a relationship, you can bet they will ignore you in the middle or the end. This is true for any size firm, and any situation where you are paying for legal representation, no matter how small or insignificant you believe your issue is.
4. Select an attorney whom you trust.
Trust is critical. Does the attorney seem to care about your situation? Does the attorney talk nonstop and forget that you are there? These are some warning signs that the attorney is a bit self-absorbed. Trust someone who listens and hears your needs.
5. Select an attorney who does what they say they will do.
This is actually a big challenge. If you wait weeks for an attorney to do a simple task, your emotions are in turmoil wondering how to handle it. Then you call the attorney to check up – which the attorney likely will charge you for. This can be very frustrating. Avoid this at the outset by trusting your gut when something isn't done.
6. Select an attorney who tells you directly how much they will cost.
If the attorney doesn’t talk to you about what you will pay, there is something wrong. Attorneys develop their fee schedules differently, so make sure you understand from the start how you will be charged. Hill Law will provide you with a basic estimate upon request, so you can know what to expect.
7. Consider selecting yourself
If you can’t afford the cost of an attorney, or just want to save some money, consider using my virtual system to get some basic coaching on your legal issue, and then go for it. Yes, you can represent yourself, and my virtual system might be able to help. We'll be growing step by step towards more services - I hope you can join us.