BOOK EXCERPT: This book is for individuals and families who need to know how to go about hiring a lawyer. It’s all about educating yourself. If you are reading this, you might be someone who has been arrested or charged with a crime, or someone who is going through a divorce. You might be someone who has not been arrested, but worry that you will be. You might be a worried spouse, partner, family member or friend of someone who could be entering the criminal or civil justice system. Or you might simply be someone who adheres to the Boy Scout Motto, "Be Prepared!"
There are many important considerations that go into selecting a lawyer. You will find that there is no one right way to locate, interview, and make the decision to hire a lawyer. In our experience, people who are better informed before they even begin the process of trying to find a lawyer are generally better satisfied with their ultimate choice. Also, those that follow their gut instincts about the attorneys they interview tend to be happier with their choice.
In the chapters that follow, we have provided the information that we believe is vital to know before you step into a lawyer's office for that first meeting. When you meet with a lawyer for the first time, you need to know what you are looking at, what you are looking for, the right questions to ask, and whether or not the information you are receiving is helpful and accurate.
FIRST THING YOU NEED—A NAME
So you want to meet with an attorney. Where do you start? The first thing you need is a name of a potential lawyer. Ideally, you would want to assemble a list of at least three to five potential lawyers to vet and consider. Once you have a name, you can get to work. But where do you get a name?
The best way generally to get the name of a potential attorney is from someone who has previously hired that attorney, or someone who can vouch for the attorney's experience, personality, and reputation. If your uncle, brother, sister, cousin, best friend, or co-worker hired an attorney and was overwhelmingly pleased with that attorney's services, that attorney should be on the top of your list.
Referrals from others is the traditional way to hire an attorney for your divorce, business, car accident, or wills and trusts. However, many people are too embarrassed to ask for a criminal defense attorney referral or do not known anyone who has gone through the criminal justice system. That’s okay. If you get the name of a trusted lawyer who does not practice criminal defense, you can still contact them to get a referral to a criminal defense lawyer.
Nowadays, most people find the most success starting with the internet...
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FREE Bonus Chapters from "Finishing Machine" a true crime book about a road-rage murder vs. self-defense by the attorneys.
There are many important considerations that go into selecting a lawyer. You will find that there is no one right way to locate, interview, and make the decision to hire a lawyer. In our experience, people who are better informed before they even begin the process of trying to find a lawyer are generally better satisfied with their ultimate choice. Also, those that follow their gut instincts about the attorneys they interview tend to be happier with their choice.
In the chapters that follow, we have provided the information that we believe is vital to know before you step into a lawyer's office for that first meeting. When you meet with a lawyer for the first time, you need to know what you are looking at, what you are looking for, the right questions to ask, and whether or not the information you are receiving is helpful and accurate.
FIRST THING YOU NEED—A NAME
So you want to meet with an attorney. Where do you start? The first thing you need is a name of a potential lawyer. Ideally, you would want to assemble a list of at least three to five potential lawyers to vet and consider. Once you have a name, you can get to work. But where do you get a name?
The best way generally to get the name of a potential attorney is from someone who has previously hired that attorney, or someone who can vouch for the attorney's experience, personality, and reputation. If your uncle, brother, sister, cousin, best friend, or co-worker hired an attorney and was overwhelmingly pleased with that attorney's services, that attorney should be on the top of your list.
Referrals from others is the traditional way to hire an attorney for your divorce, business, car accident, or wills and trusts. However, many people are too embarrassed to ask for a criminal defense attorney referral or do not known anyone who has gone through the criminal justice system. That’s okay. If you get the name of a trusted lawyer who does not practice criminal defense, you can still contact them to get a referral to a criminal defense lawyer.
Nowadays, most people find the most success starting with the internet...
______
FREE Bonus Chapters from "Finishing Machine" a true crime book about a road-rage murder vs. self-defense by the attorneys.
