Questions to Ask During a Lawyer Consultation

If you need a lawyer to help with a legal case, you want the best representation possible. 

Your goal is a quick resolution and a positive outcome, with constant assurance provided along the way. This requires an attorney with a special skill set and desirable qualities. 

Respected law firm, Brian White & Associates, indicates that "You need an attorney you can trust without question or concern. You need an attorney who can appreciate what's at stake, what you're going through, and how important your case really is."

This begins with how you conduct your initial interview before deciding to hire a lawyer. In particular, you need to ask several questions about a few topics to ensure that they have the knowledge needed to win your case.

To help you find the best lawyer possible, we'll explain a few questions you should be asking below.

Experience With Similar Cases

One of the most important questions to ask is their experience with similar cases.

There are two aspects to this.

First, you want to be sure you're working with a lawyer that handles situations like yours. While a divorce lawyer may be able to help with contract disputes, you're much better off with a contract lawyer. 

This applies to any case you may have. Most lawyers specialize in one field of law because there are many intricacies and nuances within each segment of the law that can be overwhelming for any single person to understand.

Second, you also need to know that a lawyer who deals with the area of law your situation touches on has also handled specific situations like yours. Even within a realm of law like family affairs, dozens of different types of cases may be presented.

You need a lawyer who has seen cases like yours before. They'll have a better understanding of the process, which information is pertinent, and how to get you the best outcome possible.

Putting this together, you need an experienced lawyer that fully understands cases similar to yours.  

Approach For Your Case

You also need to know what the lawyer's approach to your case would be.

Two significant elements are present here; who will be handling the case and how it's handled. Not all law firms operate the same and your experience will certainly vary between them.

Depending on the size of the firm, a law office may have senior and junior level lawyers. If you go in and speak with the face of the firm, you may expect that they will personally handle your case, but that might not be true. 

Your case may be handed down to a lower-level employee. While they are still capable, it's not the service that you're expecting. You can clarify this by asking them who will handle your case. 

The other part of this is how they intend to win your case. Some attorneys can be quite cutthroat while others are more peaceful. 

Both methods can be effective, but you may not feel good with a particularly aggressive approach. By asking what their strategy is, you can determine if you agree with their philosophy. 

Remember to ask who is handling your case and how that will be done. 

Communication Policies

Another critical question is what the lawyer's communication policies are. 

For something that is a great source of stress, you want reassurance and that comes in the form of progress updates. Even if nothing new has happened, you may want to at least know that.

This comes down to how the lawyer chooses to keep in touch with you. Ask them how frequently they reach out and what prompts them to do it. 

In all likelihood, you will feel much more comfortable with a lawyer that stays in constant contact with you, updating you on anything new immediately after it happens. 

This is why you need to ask them how they'll communicate.  

Expectations for Cost

Lastly, an uncomfortable question is what they expect your case will cost you. 

Lawyers are not cheap and their pricing is not always clear. You might get charged for something you thought was free, which can cause conflict and stress down the road.

Specifically, you should ask what their retainer fee is, if it is refundable, their hourly rate, if they charge full-hours for shorter segments of time if phone calls are billed, and what they estimate the total cost to be. 

While the total cost may not be fully accurate, it can give you an idea of what to expect from working with that lawyer. The price does matter considering how costly lawyers are. 

A good lawyer is worth their fee, but you want to be sure you're getting what you pay for. Be careful to avoid overpaying the wrong attorney by asking about pricing upfront!

Closing Thoughts

A lawyer is an invaluable tool for a legal case that you're dealing with. They have several years of training, experience, and insight that provides an effective approach and wise perspective.

When looking for a lawyer to handle your case, you need to ask a few questions when interviewing them. You should ask about their experience with similar cases, what their approach for your case would be, their communication policies, and how they do pricing.

Legal cases are no simple matter and neither is picking your lawyer. Be thorough in your search and only work with one that makes you feel comfortable and confident! 

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