As a general rule, when we need anyone from a mechanic to a doctor, we ask someone we know and/or research this on-line. There are so many statutes, cases, and regulations that may impact any given case this is hard to pin down any more. Akin to trip adviser, there are probably good words and less than such for every attorney and/or law firm. There are many ways to make your selection. A few considerations might be as follows:
- Does the attorney and/or his/her law firm have the lawyers and research within their office to handle your problem (a simple will is far different than a millionaire’s estate plan).
- Is the attorney and/or his/her firm’s communication mechanism compatible with what you can accept. Long-festering legal problems do not get answered or resolved by a quick filing or looking up an answer.
- Is your legal objective one the attorney is willing to advocate—many legal cases have a distinct non-legal dynamic, such as an emotional component—the best wrongful death attorney may not suit your needs if he or she is too case oriented and not focused enough on the sensitivities of your situation. This is not good or bad. It is just different.
- Are the legal retainer, hourly rate, and timeline consistent with what you can accept—attorneys, clients, and the legal system all often operate under very different and competing time constraints. The better you understand all of this, the better the relationship will be.
- Finally, while there is no magic question or answer, historically we have observed one truism. People win, lose and get mixed legal results in litigation. Thus, the ultimate question may be if you do not prevail, can you accept the outcome because you have faith your attorney was the one you knew could (and did) handle your case. If so, you may have found the right attorney and/or law firm for you.
We hope this blog helps you generally in your considerations in selecting the best counsel for your and your case. This blog post was written by attorneys at Ciyou & Dixon, P.C. and is for general educational purposes only and is not intended to provide specific legal advice. Ciyou & Dixon, P.C. advocates practice across Indiana.
