Once you have identified a handful of lawyers who might suit your needs, you should try to set up an initial consultation on the telephone. There, you can ask some preliminary questions before you commit yourself to a formal, in-person interview. To help you choose a lawyer, you should consider the following questions:
- Does the lawyer provide a free consultation? If the lawyer charges for an initial interview, how much does it cost? How long is the initial interview or consultation?
- What type of fee arrangement does the lawyer require? Can you negotiate the fees?
- Has the lawyer handled similar cases? What percentage of the lawyer’s cases are similar to yours? When was the last time the lawyer handled a similar case?
- How long has the lawyer been in practice? Where is the lawyer licensed to practice? Has the lawyer been investigated or disciplined before by state licensing authorities? If so, for what?
- Can the lawyer provide references from other clients?
- If the lawyer cannot handle your case, can the lawyer provide references to other lawyers?
- What type of information should you bring to a meeting with the lawyer?
- What is the range of possible outcomes for your case, including rough estimates of time and cost? Based on your brief description of the problem, your lawyer may be able to provide some general estimates.
- Will the lawyer handle the case or will others work on it also?
- What type of caseload does the lawyer currently have? What is the scope of the lawyer’s existing commitments? Will the lawyer have sufficient time to devote to your case?
If you are able to narrow down your choices, you should make an appointment with a lawyer to discuss the case in detail. During the initial interview you will likely be asked about the specifics of your case. In order to prepare for the meeting, you should gather all the information (documents, contact information) relevant your situation. You will want to bring those materials, along with a set of questions about the legal relationship you may have to the meeting.
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Article Source: http://public.findlaw.com/library/hiring-lawyer/interviewing-lawyer.html
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