Looking For Good Representation? Give These Tips A Try!
You're here because you're in search of an attorney. Do you know how to find one that meets your needs? You should continue reading this article to learn more about the selection process and how you can ensure that you find the right attorney. It can literally make all the difference in the world.
Ask for a free consultation. Many lawyers will offer a free consultation, so you can have your questions answered. During the consultation, you can also see if you are comfortable with that lawyer. Always go to more than one free consultation so you have a good mix of lawyers to choose from.
Make it clear up front that you would like your legal fee agreement in writing from your lawyer. This will help you avoid the surprise of an unexpectedly high bill. Make sure that all expenses and fees are itemized, so that you'll have a clear understanding of what exactly you are paying for.
If you go to see a lawyer for any legal reason and they tell you that your case will be simple, you should not hire them. Most legal cases have a lot of things involved with them, so it is not very likely that many cases can be that easy.
Before signing contracts, be sure the lawyer has won some cases that are similar to yours. Simply because your lawyer may be knowledgeable about your case doesn't guarantee he or she is the right candidate for it. Ask a few questions to your lawyer if you cannot find any information on their website.
Never be afraid of asking your lawyer any questions you have. Lawyers will be happy to give you updates. If you don't get answers that you're looking for when working with a lawyer, it may be time to consider hiring another one.
You can realize real savings of money and time if you make certain to assemble all necessary papers and information prior to the initial consultation. The more information your lawyer has, the more they will be able to estimate the time and cost involved in winning your case. Being efficient when dealing with lawyers can save you quite a bit.
When hiring a lawyer, ask them who exactly will be dealing with your case. Many times it will not be the big name head of the firm, but instead someone below them who has a clearer schedule. If this doesn't appeal to you, choose another law firm for your needs.
Pay attention to how friendly the staff of your lawyer's office is. Anytime you call the office, write down the amount of time it takes for you to return it. In addition, note the receptionist's tone of voice. If your messages are taking a long time to get returned, or the receptionist sounds unfriendly, then this can be a sign as to your treatment when you become a client.
Look for a lawyer who focuses on your area of need. Most lawyers will specialize in one form of law or another. If you are looking for help with child support or custody, look for a family lawyer. If you need help with housing, you'll need a real estate lawyer.
When hiring a lawyer, ask them who exactly will be dealing with your case. Many times it will not be the big name head of the firm, but instead someone below them who has a clearer schedule. If this doesn't appeal to you, choose another law firm for your needs.
Ask a prospective lawyer when they are available to answer your calls or respond to your needs. Your needs may vary, depending on your circumstances,so you want to be sure that your lawyer's standards meet those needs. Just because one lawyer only works during the day does not mean that there are not great lawyers that are available any time of the day.
If you are getting a divorce, and the details do not involve child custody or complicated details, consider settling out of court. If the divorce is simple and nothing is being contested, an out of court agreement can be drawn up by an attorney. The agreement only needs to be finalized by a judge with no legal representation by either party required.
Before engaging an attorney, put in the time and effort required to find just the right one. This is not a situation that can be trusted to a Yellow Pages listing or online referral. Be sure to visit various lawyers and be very clear about terms and conditions before ever starting any sort of legal proceeding.
Before you hire a lawyer, you need to consult the state bar association to ensure they are in good standing. The state bar will also let you know if there have been any ethical complaints or inquiries filed against the best personal injury lawyer near me lawyer. This could alert you to some potential problems and save you some money and time beforehand.
Do not bring any children with you when you go for a consultation with a lawyer. This is a business meeting, and you should take it very seriously. The only time you should bring them along is if there is no way you can get someone to stay with them while you go to your appointment.
Before you ever sign up with a lawyer, establish the method by which you will communicate along with a timeline. You should not have to wait lengthy periods of time for feedback from your lawyer. Additionally, if you are more comfortable e-mailing than talking on the phone, this should be the method of communication used. Remember that you are the one paying the bill!
When buying or selling a house or car, it is important to have a real estate agent look over the contract to be sure you're not getting into something which could be legally regrettable. You won't understand all the legal mumbo jumbo, but they will, saving you trouble down the road.
Make sure your lawyer is licensed by the state that you're living in. State licenses are not valid across all states. The advice an attorney shares with you will not be relevant in another state. Always inquire at the state licensing board in order to make sure things are on the up and up.
Now that you know what to do when you need an attorney, it's time to put those tips learned to the test. You can now find the attorney that will help you win your case. Use what you've learned, and go out there to get the right one today.
Auto insurers play hardball in minor-crash claims
Profitable strategy
The cases, CNN found, illustrate a carefully developed strategy to make the victims look like they are trying to defraud the insurers.
But documents CNN obtained indicate profit, not fraud, is the reason companies decided to play hardball in small accidents.
For Allstate and State Farm, according to documents obtained by CNN, the strategy was developed in the mid-1990s with the assistance of consulting giant McKinsey & Co.
Looking for a way to boost profits, McKinsey focused on soft-tissue injuries incurred in minor crashes.
While the McKinsey documents -- numbered in the thousands -- are under seal in courts around the country, CNN saw several of them during a court hearing in Lexington, Kentucky.
Playing off Allstate's signature slogan, one document recommends the insurer put boxing gloves on its "good hands" for those who insist on going to court.
The strategy, according to former Allstate and State Farm employee Jim Mathis, relies on the three D's -- denying a claim, delaying settlement of the claim and defending against the claim in court.
"The profits are good, and as long as the community, the public allows this to occur, the insurance companies will get richer and people ... will not get a fair and reasonable settlement," Mathis said.
Both Allstate and State Farm declined requests for interviews.
In an e-mail, Allstate wrote it did not believe it would "have any real opportunity of being successful in getting you (CNN) to do a balanced report."
State Farm wrote: "We take customer service seriously and seek to pay what we owe, promptly, courteously and efficiently, and we handle each claim on its own merits."
The company also said, "Any attempt to generalize that State Farm adopted consultant recommendations as other insurers is just plain wrong."
A company spokesman sent an additional e-mail, saying that the company did work with McKinsey to improve claims handling but State Farm stopped using the McKinsey program in 1999.
Robert Hartwig, president of the Insurance Information Institute, told CNN insurers do not have a strategy of blanket denial of claims. He also said strategies to limit expenditures on minor-impact crashes are needed to fight fraud.
Hartwig specifically singled out lawyers who he claims make a living on car accident victims, saying those lawyers are upset because "the gravy train is over."