This content written for Willhoite Law, PLLC.
There are few things to look for before hiring a Claremore law firm. Initially you need to find out whether you have a legal matter or simply a problem. A legal issue is the one that can be solved by using the law. It’s an issue that comes within federal, state, or municipal laws and regulations.
Once you have identified that you have a true legal problem, initially you should do some research online as well as offline on the legal issues you have. It is important to start by breaking down all the factors. The process will benefit you classify some important keywords that you can use to start your initial research. After doing research on your legal issue, you can start exploring and learning about possible results and next steps.
Which practice area does your legal issue falls?
The best way to investigate your legal issue is to start by classifying the broad category that it falls into. You may have seen that in Claremore law firm, lawyers constantly associate themselves with their practice areas. The practice areas are those in which the lawyer has particular experience and knowledge. Some common practice areas are corporate law, criminal law, estate planning, employment law, personal injury, and business law etc.
Fix your legal problem
After identifying your legal issues or doing the necessary research, you can decide to handle it yourself or decide that it’s not worth proceeding. Maybe you require some additional clarification or legal advice before taking next steps. Or you may be assured that you need to hire a lawyer right away to deal with your case. The main thing to know is that you have multiple options.
Do it yourself?
If you want to do it yourself, it’s your right or choice to be your own representative in legal matters. In some matters, lawyers are mandatorily required by law, whether you want one or not. In most cases, it’s a great idea to get some facts from a lawyer regardless. Remember what Abraham Lincoln said “He who represents himself has a fool for a client”.
If you want to lead and manage your legal issues yourself, do your research and come up with a strategy. If you need to talk to a lawyer, there are some who offer free consultations but these sessions are normally used as a way to get to understand each other and talk about whether you have a case or not.
What can you expect from an attorney?
When you hire an attorney, you are hiring someone who will represent your legal issue. Depending on your legal problem, your lawyer may represent you in court or they may plan, review, process, or file documents.
More importantly, your attorney will give you guidance, proactively work for your advantages, and predict problems that you may not see coming. Many attorneys give free consultations to new clients to discuss if there is a good fit between want and expertise.
Questions to ask yourself before hiring a lawyer
Is the lawyer really a frustrated businessperson?
Some lawyers get exhausted from being on the outside looking in when it comes to business dealings. Be wary of a lawyer who takes too keen an interest in the no legal aspects of your work.
Is the office located nearby?
If you hire an attorney, you might need to visit your attorney frequently especially in the starting phase of your case. However in probate cases you may only need to physically be present at the first hearing. You should not have to spend many hours or a day travelling to and from the nearest city each time you need legal advice. When in doubt between two, choose a Claremore law firm.
Do you like your attorney as a person?
Don’t forget to follow your senses and feelings. You must be able to talk freely with your attorney at all times like a friend. If you think you cannot trust a specific lawyer or you believe that you both have different viewpoints, keep looking for another.
Cost saving strategies if you hire an attorney
If you hire a Claremore law firm attorney, you are inviting lots of legal bills that you need to pay. There is no doubt that hiring a lawyer is expensive, there are multiple ways to keep a lid on your legal costs. Here we have few method lawyers bill for their time:
- Hourly or per day rate: Most attorneys bill by the hour. If travel from one place to another is involved, they may bill for the full day.
- Monthly Retainer: If you anticipate a lot of routine questions, one option is a monthly fee that entitles you to all the routine legal advice you need.
- Contingent fee: For lawsuits or other complex matters, lawyers often work on a contingency fee basis. This means that if they succeed, they receive a percentage of the proceeds. If they fail, they receive only basic expenses.
No matter what type of billing method your attorney uses, here are some steps you can take to control legal costs:
Take the cost of each matter in writing so you can decide whether it’s worth pursuing or not. If the bill comes in over the estimate, ask questions why it is so. Some attorneys also offer assurance in writing the maximum cost of a particular service. This type of paperwork helps you budget and gives you more certainty than just getting an estimate.
You may request monthly or specific service based bills. Some attorneys send invoices only after the client has a larger bill. You may ask for monthly invoices and review it on a regular basis. Certain times, it is also possible that you may be wrongly billed for work done for another client. So review your invoices carefully.
Fix your appointments with your lawyer regularly. In the starting maybe this does not look like a good way to keep expenses down, but you’ll be amazed at how much it decreases the endless rounds of phone tag that plague busy attorneys. More important, a monthly short meeting even by a phone call can save you large amounts by nipping small legal problems in the bud before they have a chance to grow.
This may all sound strange, but with a little smart work, you have a better knowledge of what to do and how to take necessary steps.