When you’re in need of a lawyer, it’s important to know what to ask them before hiring them. You’ll be able to tell if they’re knowledgeable and experienced enough for your needs by asking these 6 questions: Do you take on injury cases? How much experience do you have with my type of case? What is your fee structure? How will we communicate with each other? Will I be billed for phone calls and emails? Who will be working on my case, and how long has he or she been practicing law? Let’s explore each of these questions thoroughly and why you need to ask them.
1. Do You Take on Injury Cases?
If your case is a civil one, such as a car accident or contract dispute, it’s important to know what type of law the lawyer practices. If they don’t specialize in civil cases, they might not know all the ins and outs of the law and could do more harm than good for your case. Or, if you’ve suffered an accident in Illinois, you’ll need injury lawyers fighting for Chicago compensation claims. Also, if you’re ever arrested or summoned to court for an alleged offense, there won’t be much your lawyer can do other than advise you to get another lawyer who specializes in criminal cases. While some lawyers handle both civil and criminal matters successfully, it’s best that you only hire someone who focuses their practice on this area of law so that you can rest assured their expertise is unrivaled in this area.
2. How Much Experience Do You Have with My Type of Case?
It’s important to know the level of experience your lawyer has in dealing with your type of case. If you’re hiring a criminal defense lawyer, it’d be great if they have tons of experience representing clients with cases similar to yours to get the best outcome possible for your case. Ask them what their win/loss record is for this kind of case so that you can gauge how much experience they have. If you hire someone without any previous experience in your specific case, they likely won’t do very well and might even mess up some important part that might end up costing you more money if they needlessly out proceedings or prolong things unnecessarily.
3. What Is Your Fee Structure?
When you’re hiring a lawyer, it’s important to know how much you’ll be paying them. Most lawyers use an hourly billing structure, so ask them how much they charge per hour and if any additional fees could show up on your bill unexpectedly. It’s good to know this ahead of time, so you won’t be caught off guard later when the bill comes in.
Why Fees Matter
Be sure to look at the specific details of how you’ll be charged and what costs might arise. You must ask these questions so that you can plan your budget accordingly and not go over it with unforeseeable expenses. If your lawyer is billing you $100/hr for their services, but then charges another $50 for every 15 minutes they spend on the phone or responding to an email, this adds up quickly. Ask ahead of time how long things like having a phone call or sending an email typically take them and if there will be any additional fees associated with those activities.
4. How Will We Communicate With Each Other?
It’s also important to find out how communication will take place between the two of you since communication is essential for success with any legal case. How often do they propose communication (e.g., email only or phone call every day)? Should either of you expect regular updates or just periodic check-ins? How will they handle long messages that might require research on their part to get back to you with an answer (e.g., should you expect a callback, or will they give you the information in bulk when they do respond)?
5. Will I Be Billed For Phone Calls And Emails?
While this isn’t always the case, some lawyers charge for phone calls and emails between them and clients. If your lawyer is billing you hourly, then every minute counts towards time spent working on cases, so don’t let them waste time unnecessarily communicating with you when an email would suffice. This also holds if your lawyer sends letters, subpoenas, court filings, etc. Make sure that you don’t get charged for any time they spend doing anything other than physically working on your case.
6. Who Will Be Working On My Case And How Long Has He Or She Been Practicing Law?
Another important thing to find out is who will be working on your case and how long that person has been practicing law. While it might seem obvious, you’d be surprised at the number of people who hire lawyers without knowing these key pieces of information. It’s best if you select someone with substantial experience handling cases like yours, but make sure the lawyer takes special care to match their style (e.g., aggressive or passive) with your personality (e.g., bold or meek). Also, make sure they match their temperament (e.g., firm or flexible) with your needs (e.g., demanding or tolerant).
Why Years of Practice Matter
Being able to match a lawyer’s experience and temperament with your personality and needs is key because a good fit between a lawyer and a client can make all the difference. Years of practice give someone insight into how to handle your specific case, but if their style doesn’t match yours or vice versa, then it might end up being counterproductive. For example, if you’re the type of person who likes to take charge but deals with an opposing party who is passive by nature, you’ll have a hard time succeeding without knowing how to properly communicate with this person.
These questions will help paint a clearer picture for both you and your lawyer as to what kind of working relationship you should expect from them together. When you hire an experienced lawyer who is familiar with handling cases similar to yours, you can be sure that they’ll be able to maximize their efforts in helping you get the outcome you’re looking for. Ask these 6 questions before hiring a lawyer so that you know whether they’re the right fit for your case!
