Questions To Ask Before Hiring An Attorney

by Eric Boehmer on Aug. 26, 2015

Criminal Divorce & Family Law Accident & Injury 

Summary: Information and questions to ask when you are looking to hire an attorney.

Choosing the right attorney to handle your legal matters is a very important choice.  You will want to speak with an attorney to decide if they have the knowledge and experience to handle your particular legal matter.  Here are some questions you may want to ask before deciding on which attorney you want to hire.

What areas of law do you practice?

Find out if he/she has experience in the type of law you need to handle your case. You want to have the peace of mind that the person handling your case has the knowledge and experience to get the job done.

Have you handled many of this type of case?

Find out if your type of case is more difficult than what they are used to handling, especially with felonies. You want to know that they understand the system and the laws that apply to your type of case. Ask them if they have ever handled a case like yours and what approach did they use on those cases.

How much trial experience do you have?

Find out if he/she is willing to try your case. Do they have a reputation for trying cases? Have they ever tried a case before? You want someone who has confidence and experience inside a court room. Ask how much experience they have with jury selection and direct cross examination.   Be sure to specify between a judge and a jury trial. Not every lawyer tries cases, and even fewer try cases by jury.

What is your trial success rate?

It is rare to find a successful jury trial lawyer, especially with multiple victories in an actual courtroom. If someone is advertising they have many ‘victories’ probe deeper and find out what they define as winning a court case, especially as it applies to doing actual trials in a court room.

How much will my case cost and do you accept payment plans?

You want to make sure you understand all the fees and costs upfront to your case. Discuss all the possible scenarios that could happen pertaining to your legal matters and find out what costs could be involved no matter which way they go. This gives you a more realistic outlook at what could be coming down the road so you can plan accordingly. Also, discuss with your attorney all the ways you may make payments so you understand all your options.

When do I need an attorney?

The only person that can really answer that is you. However, if you are not sure, it is recommend that you call us to discuss your legal matters so we can help you come to a more informed decision. The first consultation visit to Boehmer Law LLC is free, so contact our staff at 636-896-4020 to set up an appointment to see how we can get working for you. For more information about Boehmer Law, you can also check out our website at www.boehmerlaw.com

The choice of an attorney is an important one and should not be based solely on advertising.

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