After an accident or injury you will likely have a lengthy list of practical matters to attend to – choosing a lawyer may be on that list. Choosing a lawyer is likely not something you do every day and the task can seem daunting. Gluckstein & Associates have put together a few tips to help make this task a little easier for you and your family.
Selecting a Lawyer
Like many things in life, the choice of lawyer is a very personal one. Lawyers have a myriad of individual styles and not one of these lawyer traits is necessarily objectively better than the other, as such, you need to consider the type of lawyer and law firm that best fits your needs. Ultimately, you need to ask yourself whether or not you feel comfortable with that particular lawyer/firm. It is important that you feel that lawyer/firm has your best interests at hand and can effectively advocate on your behalf.
It is imperative to keep in mind that personal injury lawsuits are generally long drawn out affairs and you will have to work with this lawyer over the course of several years. A successful lawsuit requires you to be able to speak frankly, openly and honestly to your lawyer and therefore, it is crucial that you choose someone with whom you will feel comfortable discussing sensitive information. If you are intimidated by your lawyer or unable to discuss the issues at hand with them, then they will not be able to advocate for you effectively.
Do You Understand Your Lawyer?
Lawsuits can be complicated and the outcome can have a significant impact on your future. Thus, it is important that you understand the process and the decisions that you are required to make at all stages of your lawsuit. You must consider whether or not your lawyer can answer your questions and whether or not you understand their answers. Having this open and honest dialogue will better your understanding and relationship with this individual whom is fighting on your behalf.
Fees
During initial client meetings, the question of legal fees is often the elephant in the room that potential clients are reluctant to ask about. You should not be fearful of discussing this. The fee agreement is an important part of the retainer and you need to be sure that you completely understand the fee arrangement that is presented before you. If you have questions about the fees or wonder why fees differ amongst firms feel free to ask. Many law firms are open to discussing the fee arrangements in particular situations. There may be times when the fee arrangements cannot be changed but you should always feel comfortable discussing this issue.
Testimonials
Client testimonials are an excellent resource to utilize when making a decision on choosing what law firm best fits you. They allow you to see a direct reflection of the experience past clients had working with that specific firm. In particular, you are able to see/hear what those individuals have to say about the services they received. To reference, you can visit firms’ web testimonials, refer to brochures and even video testimonials as a guide for your selection. It is important to speak to former clients about their experiences to get some firsthand feedback, as selecting a lawyer is an important decision. You must note that if a firm does not have testimonials available for you to view they may not be a suitable fit.
Reputation
How do you know you have a “good” lawyer or law firm? Often times the best indicators of a law firm’s successes and failures can come from other lawyers or former clients. Word of mouth is an excellent way to discover a law firm’s reputation. A word of mouth referral from a source you trust is likely one of the most effective ways of getting an honest opinion. Often, testimonials (especially video) are another powerful outlet for considering reputations.
Gluckstein & Associates, hope that some of the tips we have provided, will assist you in your search for a lawyer to handle your personal injury litigation. If you would like to contact us for a free consultation please visit our website (www.gluckstein.com) to access our online consultation request form or feel free to call our office directly at 416-408-4252.
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