My previous article talked about why it is important to find the right lawyer for you. If you’re sold on the desire to find the best lawyer for your personal situation, that’s great! But, you might need some help identifying the right lawyer for your needs. One way to find out if a lawyer is right for you is by meeting with him or her. Most lawyers offer a free consultation. During a free consultation you can discuss your situation and get to know the lawyer. This can happen before committing to hiring him or her. During your initial consultation with a lawyer, consider asking these 5 questions. They can help you determine if he or she is the right lawyer for you.

Question #1 – How Long Have You Been Practicing Law?

To determine a lawyer’s experience, you should ask the lawyer how long her or she has been in business. It is important to keep in mind that age might not be an issue. Just because a lawyer is young or new to law does not mean that you should automatically disqualify him or her. Young lawyers can have a good understanding of new laws and techniques that are used in the courtroom. You have to determine how important experience in the courtroom is to you. If you are meeting with a young lawyer, consider giving him or her the benefit of the doubt. Ask more questions to understand his or her level of experience.

Question #2 – Can You Tell Me About Similar Cases That You Have Handled?

Just because a lawyer has a lot of experience does not mean that he or she has experience with cases like yours. A lawyer who has been in business for 30 years may have never handled a motor vehicle violation case before. On the other hand, a lawyer who has only a year of experience may have handled dozens of these cases already. Take this into consideration when meeting with an attorney.

Question #3 – How Would You Handle A Case Like Mine?

Get to know a certain lawyer’s approach to your situation. Would the lawyer like to plead guilty to the charges, or present evidence to prove your innocence? Is he or she invested in meeting with the DMV to try to save your license, or is this not a priority? These are all things that you should take into consideration. Chances are, you have an idea of how you want your case handled. Make sure that the lawyer you choose has a similar vision for your case.

Question #4 – Do You Have Any Testimonials From Previous Clients That I Can Look At?

Many lawyers have reviews from previous clients. These can be on file somewhere in the office or available to view online. Take a look at these testimonials to learn more about the attorney. You can learn what he or she does well, and what he or she can improve on. If communication is important to you, but reviews list this as an issue, take this as a warning sign. Still, it is important to take client reviews with a grain of salt. Most lawyers will only pick out the best testimonials to put on display. They might not paint an accurate picture of the attorney in question.

Question #5 – What Do You Charge?

Affordability is important when it comes to hiring a lawyer! The truth  is that a great lawyer won’t necessarily charge an insane amount of money for his or her services. Talk to the attorney about fees and payment plans. The best lawyers will give you the information that you are looking for upfront. They will work with you to make sure that you can afford his or her services.

Ask these 5 questions in your initial consultation and you will begin to get to know a lawyer. You can then determine if he or she is right for your legal needs. To put us to the test, call us at 203-567-6474 and set up your free consultation.