With 1.1 million lawyers licensed to practice law in the United States, how can a construction firm or individual pick which attorney is most suited to help it settle a legal issue?
Choosing the appropriate lawyer is a time-consuming yet crucial procedure. To begin, talk to business consultants, people in your field, other attorneys, and other reliable sources to compile a list of probable candidates. Websites of law firms, online resources, bar groups, and other referral networks are all good places to start.
The next step is to narrow down the pool of probable candidates to a manageable number of favored candidates. Then make contact with each of the preferred applicants and do an in-person interview with each of them. A growing number of businesses are devoting time and resources to completing a formal Request for Proposal (RFP).
When determining which attorney is ideal for your firm’s legal needs, construction executives should evaluate the following ten factors, regardless of whether your organization follows a formal or informal approach.
1. Determine the nature of your legal issue and seek the advice of a professional.
Understanding the problem or issue you’re dealing with is the first step in finding an attorney. There are many various types of lawyers and sub-specialties in the law, and before you can find the finest lawyer to represent you, you must first figure out what kind of lawyer is best suited to handle and resolve your situation. Consult your general corporate lawyer or another trusted business expert, such as your accountant, during this first phase.
Choose a professional to assist you in resolving your issue. Today’s lawyers are just as specialized as doctors. You wouldn’t ask your internist to operate on your heart. Similarly, you should not entrust a wage and hour audit or an OSHA inspection to your general business counsel. Without costing you extra to be on the “cutting edge,” an expert will be up to date on the newest advancements and legal intricacies that apply to your case. This up-to-date knowledge is critical since it could mean the difference between winning and losing your case. Accidents are quite common in construction sites, so you should always contact the best accident lawyer to help you manage the situation well. In any such situation, you can always contact personal injury lawyers port St Lucie.
2. Verify if the attorney has the necessary experience.
One of the most important factors to consider when hiring a lawyer is their level of expertise. You want a lawyer who has a track record of success with cases similar to yours. With such a track record of accomplishment, you can be confident that the attorney will be able to assist you in successfully resolving your issue.
Obviously, length of employment, number of cases in a specific specialty and geographic area, and previous results are all relevant factors to examine when assessing an attorney’s “experience.” With experience comes understanding of the adversaries and personalities involved in a case, as well as the wisdom and perspective to assess risks and build winning strategies for a specific situation, as well as the confidence to guide you through the legal process’s twists and turns.
The legal firm’s website will also provide you with information about the firm’s practice areas. Go to each firm’s website and Google the firm and individual attorneys on your “shortlist.” These procedures will assist you in determining the firm’s depth and breadth of practice.
3. Expect the lawyer to be an excellent communicator.
Attorneys are compensated for communicating with their opponents and people who will be deciding their cases. Finding an attorney who can successfully communicate with you is also vital. You want an attorney that anticipates your queries and keeps you informed about your case without requiring you to contact first.
The lawyer must be able to speak in a structured and intelligible manner. The lawyer should have a pleasant “bedside manner” and be able to tell when an in-person conversation or e-mail is the best option. Additionally, the attorney should be aware that over-communicating may be needless and ineffective.
When you are asked to make a decision or take action, the attorney must clearly explain the options open to you, the practical and legal benefits and drawbacks of various courses of action, and other pertinent information.
4. Take into account the attorney’s professionalism.
“Professionalism” entails more than just a person’s personality. It entails a set of objective activities and behaviors that distinguish the finest lawyers from the average ones. You should expect a “professional” attorney to do the following, among other things:
- Work tirelessly to safeguard your best interests.
- Work efficiently and cost-effectively, treating your resources as if they were his own.
- All phone calls and client communications should be returned as soon as possible.
- Arrive on time and prepare for meetings.
- Follow up as soon as possible and as needed.
- Provide you with information on alternative conflict resolution options.
- Everyone should be treated with respect, regardless of their position, job, or status.
- Be tidy and present the picture of success that your company deserves.
- In any scenario, act appropriately.
- Observe all applicable laws and ethical guidelines.
- Don’t do anything that might give the impression of impropriety.
The lawyer should be devoted to defending your rights at any cost. The greatest lawyers take ownership of your issue and devote themselves to finding a solution that works.
5. Think about the attorney’s approach and how well it fits with your company.
Attorneys represent clients in a variety of styles, personalities, and methods. You should match the attorney’s attributes to your own style, personality, and approach, in addition to hiring a “professional” counsel. It would be a major mistake to underestimate the relevance of this subjective component. In the end, you must pick an attorney with whom you feel at ease and whom you can trust to handle situations that may affect your business.
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6. Hire a lawyer who is familiar with your area.
The nature of the problem will determine whether you hire a local or national expert. Real estate and workers’ compensation, for example, are virtually usually handled locally. National specialists, on the other hand, are better suited to address concerns of federal law, such as wage and hour or labor law. Because of advancements in transportation and technology, it is now possible to hire a professional from practically anywhere in the United States.
Someone who is familiar with your area will have a greater understanding of local laws and procedures, as well as the personalities of local judicial and administrative officials. Furthermore, because face-to-face discussions are often superior to phone conferences and e-mail, it may be preferable to have the professional positioned close enough to visit the problem site in a timely manner.
