Just like a doctor, contractor or account, the task of selecting a lawyer is one that should be approached with caution. You have to share confidential information with the lawyer and also entrust them to provide you legal guidance and advice in situations that you cannot navigate on your own. Therefore, it is a given that you want someone who is competent and capable and can offer you the best legal services. How do you go about it? You can check out this guide from Asaf Izhak Rubin that tells you what you need to think about when selecting a lawyer. Let’s get started:
-
Long-term or short term?
First things first, AsafIzhak Rubin suggests that you need to understand why you need an attorney. Are you in a legal fix that needs to be dealt with, or you are looking for a lawyer to be prepared for any situation? Once you understand this, you can decide if you need a lawyer for the long-term, or the short-term. Do you only need a lawyer for advice on a current legal situation, or do you want someone to handle your legal matters indefinitely? The answers can factor into your decision.
-
Area of the law
There are different areas of the law and you will find lawyers specializing in specific ones. You can find lawyers covering real estate, bankruptcy, civil or criminal rights law, employment, injury/accident, family and immigration law. There are also lawyers who manage different areas of the law and are known as general practice lawyers. As per AsafIzhak Rubin, you need to figure out if you want an attorney specializing in a particular area of the law, or a general practice one.
-
Reputati2on
One of your top priorities when selecting a lawyer is to ensure they know their stuff. According to AsafIzhaf Rubin, this means ensuring that they have a good reputation in the market. You can reach out to people in your circle for references, as personal recommendations can be quite valuable and insightful. Likewise, you should also do your own homework and check the reviews of a lawyer to ensure they have a good reputation.
-
Location
Many people don’t really think about this, but AsafIzhak Rubin states that location can make a big difference in the success of your legal matters. First off, the same rules do not apply in every state or country, so the location is undoubtedly relevant. Secondly, a lawyer operating in a certain area will be familiar with the judges and adversaries they will have to go up against, which puts them in a better position to succeed.
-
Experience
Not taking the experience of a lawyer into account is a big mistake and AsafIzhak Rubin suggests that you ensure they have experience in the kind of situation you are facing. Make sure you check their practicing history, which includes the number of cases they have dealt with, the details of the cases and also the outcomes.
-
Compatibility
While experience is undoubtedly relevant, it does not mean that you choose a lawyer you are not comfortable with. According to AsafIzhak Rubin, you need to find a lawyer you are comfortable with because they will handling sensitive matters on your behalf. You need to ensure you two are compatible, which means you should be able to communicate easily and have mutual respect for each other.
-
Availability
It is also a must for you to verify the availability of the lawyer. Asaf Rubin says that selecting a lawyer with a heavy caseload means that you may not be a priority for them. It can be frustrating for you to not be able to reach your lawyer because they are unavailable due to other commitments, especially when you find yourself in a bind. Therefore, checking availability is definitely necessary.
Follow this guide and you will have no trouble in selecting a lawyer that can handle your legal matters effortlessly.
