Here’s How to Hire a Lawyer

Need help with a legal issue but don’t know where to start? You’re one of many. Most people have no idea how to find and hire a lawyer.

Luckily, you don’t have to go in blind.

Read on as we explain how to hire a lawyer. We’ll touch on where to search, what questions to ask, how legal fees work, and what to check before signing an agreement.

When Should You Hire a Lawyer?

You should get legal assistance whenever a serious problem could affect your health, finances, family, job, property, or freedom. Some of the most common examples include being involved in a major accident, facing criminal charges, going through a difficult divorce, dealing with a business dispute, or receiving legal papers.

You should also speak with a lawyer when the other side already has one. Insurance companies, large businesses, and government agencies usually have experienced legal teams protecting them. Trying to handle a high-stakes dispute alone can leave you at a disadvantage.

Some situations call for quick action. Contact a lawyer as soon as possible if you’ve been arrested, served with a lawsuit, seriously injured, threatened with the loss of your children, or warned that your claim filing deadline is coming up.

You should also act fast when evidence can be lost, erased, repaired, or destroyed.

Waiting too long to hire a lawyer can easily damage an otherwise strong case. As time goes on, legal deadlines pass, witnesses become harder to find, and important documents or video footage may disappear. A lawyer can’t go back in time and recover evidence that doesn’t exist, locate missing witnesses, or reopen a deadline that’s already passed.

You don’t have to know whether you have a winning case before making the call. During your consultation, you’ll get a chance to explain what happened and learn whether legal action makes sense.

How Should You Find a Lawyer?

Start by looking for lawyers who handle your specific type of problem. A lawyer who mainly writes wills may be great at that work, but they probably aren’t the right person for a serious injury lawsuit. Not all legal experience is the same.

Search by both practice area and location. For example, someone injured in a commercial truck crash in Dallas should look for a Dallas personal injury lawyer with real experience handling truck accident cases. You don’t want a lawyer who claims to handle all types of legal cases.

Recommendations can also help. Ask trusted friends or family members whether they’ve worked with a lawyer they’d recommend. Doctors and other medical providers sometimes know attorneys who regularly help injured patients, but always remember to investigate all recommendations yourself.

Online reviews can reveal a lot about how a firm treats clients. Just one bad review may not carry a lot of weight. But if there are lots of complaints about ignored calls, surprise fees, or poor communication, take them seriously.

Look at verdicts, settlements, and case results as well. Results from previous cases don’t guarantee what’ll happen in yours. But they can help you see whether the firm has handled serious cases like yours before.

Use these tips to create a short list of two to three lawyers. You don’t have to speak to every attorney in town. You just need enough options to make a real comparison instead of hiring someone out of panic.

Can a Lawyer Referral Service Help?

Your local or state bar association can help connect you with a lawyer who works in the right area of law. This can be useful when you don’t have a personal recommendation or don’t know where to begin.

The State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral and Information Service matches people with participating lawyers and other legal resources. The referral itself is free, and you can get an initial 30-minute consultation for $20 or less. You’ll need to make a separate payment agreement with the lawyer for any work after the consultation.

A referral is a starting point, not an endorsement you should accept without question. You still need to review the lawyer’s experience, record, fees, and approach before hiring them.

How Do You Choose the Right Law Firm?

It’s best to start by gauging the firm’s experience handling cases like yours. Don’t settle for a vague answer like “We handle personal injury.” Ask how often they’ve dealt with your type of accident, defendant, insurance issue, or legal dispute.

Past verdicts and settlements can give you a better idea of the kinds of cases a firm has actually handled. Look for results that are similar to your situation. A long list of small car accident settlements doesn’t mean the firm is ready for a serious wrongful death or truck accident case.

Trial experience is important, too. Most cases settle, but the other side still needs to know that your lawyer is ready to go to court if necessary. If a lawyer rarely takes cases to trial, that can weaken their position during settlement talks.

Firm size can make a difference, but bigger isn’t always better when it comes to lawyer’s services. A smaller firm may give you more direct access to the lead lawyer, while a larger firm may have more staff and resources. What really counts is whether the firm has enough time, attention, and money to handle your case properly.

Pay attention to how the firm treats you specifically. Are they listening, or are they rushing you to sign? Do they explain things clearly, or bury you in legal terms? You may be working with these people for a long time, so you need a team that keeps you informed and treats you with respect.

You should also check the lawyer’s license and bar standing before you hire them. Make sure they’re allowed to practice in your state and see whether they’ve faced any public disciplinary action. That information is easy to verify on the State Bar of Texas website, so don’t just take their word for it.

How Should You Prepare for a Consultation?

Before you book the consultation, ask whether there’s a fee, so you don’t get surprised later. Then put together a short summary of what happened, including the main dates, who was involved, how you were affected, and what you’ve already done.

Bring any records you have, such as photos, medical bills, police reports, emails, texts, insurance papers, or court documents, but don’t put off the meeting just because something is missing. The lawyer can tell you what else they need.

It also helps to write down your questions ahead of time, since it’s easy to forget them once the conversation gets going.

Here are some great questions to ask during your consultation:

• How many cases like mine have you handled?
• Have you taken a case like mine to trial?
• What strengths and weaknesses do you see in my case?
• Who’ll handle my case day to day?
• How often will I get updates?
• How long could my case take?
• What will I have to pay?

How Do Legal Fees and Costs Work?

Lawyers may charge by the hour, ask for a retainer, or work on a contingency fee. Hourly billing means you pay for the time spent on your case, while a retainer is money paid upfront and used as the work is completed. With a contingency fee, the lawyer takes an agreed percentage of the recovery instead of charging an upfront attorney’s fee.

Before you sign anything, ask for the exact rate or percentage, how often you’ll get bills, and what happens if a retainer runs low. You should also know who pays filing fees, court filing fees, expert costs, depositions, medical records, and other case expenses.

Ask how case costs will be paid if you win. You should also ask whether you’ll have to pay anything if you lose. Get all the payment terms in writing so there’s no confusion later.

Contact Grossman Law Offices Today

If you’re dealing with a serious injury claim, you may already be up against an insurance company or large business that’s working to protect itself. The lawyer you choose should be ready to investigate, explain your options, and push back when the other side tries to dodge responsibility.

Grossman Law Offices has spent more than 35 years handling serious personal injury and wrongful death cases. We’ve recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients in major injury cases.

You can reach our team 24/7, and we’re free to hire, because we only get paid if we recover money for you.

Contact Grossman Law Offices to tell us what happened. We’ll listen, answer your questions, and give you a straightforward assessment of your options.