Although maybe not needed now, it is always a good idea to know how to find a lawyer in case any need might arise.
These days, lawyers are needed for just about everything — the most common include a personal injury lawyer because workers reported 3,007,300 workplace illnesses and injuries in 2013 alone. Another large percentage are those seeking lawyers for bankruptcy issues. Although workplace injuries are common, bankruptcy filings just in the state of California have increased 600% since 2006. Imagine the increase throughout the nation. With a success rate of over 95% for Chapter 7 bankruptcy claims, no wonder these figures are so high.
Understand that choosing a lawyer doesn’t need to be difficult as long as you follow a few simple steps.
- Assess Your Situation: Not all lawyers practice under the same field of law, which means not all lawyers will be right for you. For example, finding a lawyer who specializes in workman’s compensation will not be beneficial for your DWI case. Make sure to find one who specializes in your area.
- Friend Referral: Word of mouth can be stronger than any televised ad. If you are wondering how to choose a lawyer without having to sweep through the various websites that come up on your hit list, then simply ask a friend, family member, or colleague. Just keep in mind that the lawyer they mention may not specialize in your area.
- Consult the Bar Association: Every state has a Bar Association where the lawyers must be certified through in order to practice their area of law. Choosing a lawyer from the local Bar Association is a guaranteed way to get a list of successful, reputable names. They won’t choose a lawyer for you, nor will they disclose their track record, but it’s a great place to start from.
- Google It: As long as sifting through all the ads and phony online sites that don’t offer real help, using the Internet is a good place to narrow down your search after you’ve received a few names. Use this tool to look at the firm’s websites. There are also specific sites dedicated to providing a lawyer search service.
- Call Your Insurance Company: If one needs a lawyer, it is most likely that they will be in contact with their insurance company at some point or another during the legal process. At any rate, using them as a resource is a good move, particularly if you were in a car accident. Many auto insurance companies will represent individuals in court. Others such as home and health insurance companies can also be of use in legal matters.
After deciding what search method to use when choosing a lawyer, make sure to follow through and make the call. Don’t hesitate to also use multiple resources to narrow it down to just a couple options.