Interviewing a Lawyer
What to ask an attorney during your first meeting
During your initial consultation with an attorney, you will have the chance to ask questions that will assist you in selecting the right attorney to help you with your legal issue. Utilize this opportunity to understand the legal process and timelines better.
An attorney with extensive experience in a specific field of law is difficult to outperform. It takes a lot of work for an attorney to beat another lawyer who specializes in a particular legal domain. When proficient lawyers have the resources and client base to specialize, they almost possess unbeatable experience. You should seek a lawyer specializing in the type of law you need if you want to win your case. For example, you wouldn’t hire a divorce lawyer for a personal injury case and vice versa.
Always inquire about the lawyer’s experience. Have they handled cases similar to yours? How many cases have they handled, and what is their success rate? Inquire about any notable outcomes. Any lawyer who claims to have never lost a case likely hasn’t handled many cases. Losses can be instructive. It’s important to remember that the presentation of facts and the law can be influenced by the individuals presenting them on both sides. For instance you may have heard that personal injury lawyers can improve your monetary reward by 2–4 times. That statement is true, but did you know that McCutcheon & Hamner recovers almost 10x more? That’s because we specialize in personal injury cases here in Alabama.
How much do you charge? Some attorneys charge by the hour or for the entire job. However, Joel and I do not operate in this way, but many lawyers do. In personal injury cases, the lawyer assumes all the risk in exchange for a percentage of the compensation received from your settlement or court decision. In simple terms, we only receive payment if you receive payment. At McCutcheon & Hamner the client will won’t have to pay any out of pocket expenses.
What is the lawyer’s general approach? Some cases require immediate filing, while others might develop over time, especially in personal injury cases where surgical treatment and subsequent therapy are needed. In many cases, it’s best to document your treatment and losses. This documentation helps determine costs and results, allowing for a settlement through negotiation rather than a lengthy trial. Getting on with their lives is the most important thing for most people.
How involved does the client need to be? Some cases are quite busy, and others aren’t. We had one case where we met with clients and didn’t need to see them again. We just deposited $375,000.00 in their bank account (extremely rare, in fact, one of a kind).
You should inquire about the expected duration of the case. Some insurers may prolong the process, while others may rush it. Neither scenario is ideal, but having an expert lawyer specializing in personal injury will help you understand what to expect.
Questions You Should Remember:
- What types of law does the attorney specialize in?
- How many cases has the lawyer handled that are similar to your case?
- What is their success rate with cases like yours?
- What are some notable outcomes?
- How much does the attorney charge?
- Will you have any out-of-pocket expenses?
- How much trial experience does the attorney have?
- What general approach would the lawyer take?
- What do you need to do to strengthen your case?
- How involved will you likely need to be in this case?
- How long will this case take?
- Can your case be settled, or will it likely find itself in court?
