There are two types of people. Those that have already hired an attorney,
and those that haven't hired an attorney YET. Unfortunately, schools do not teach you how
to choose an attorney. Today, I'm going to provide you with four
things to look for when you have to make your choice. Pay attention though because the last one
is the MOST important. You're not the first person that's had to
hire an attorney; BIG surprise, right? This is important for you to realize at the
beginning because it will help you understand that law firms are set up and managed with
the idea that new clients will be calling for help. Therefore, you aren't going to be given a
law exam when you call, and you aren't expected to know any legal jargon just to
hire an attorney. When hiring an attorney, remember that you're
hiring someone to provide services just like any other services-based
industry. The biggest difference is that the person
who provides your service spent a lot of time in school. Therefore, as
with all services, you should expect caring and empathetic attention when speaking to
an attorney or their staff. Personally, I make it a point to tell every
client that I'm there to be their attorney and they aren't there to be my client. So,
when choosing an attorney, make sure you choose someone who approaches your legal representation
with this client- centered approach. One of the biggest misconceptions that exists
is that attorneys are simply hired guns that are paid to get results. Unfortunately, attorneys aren't permitted
to guarantee the outcome of any legal matter and are barred by the rules of ethics
from doing so. The greatest reason that attorneys can't guarantee
an outcome in your case is because it is impossible to predict the verdict
that a jury will return or the ruling that a Judge will make. The role of an attorney is to assist you by
providing you with legal options so you can make an informed
decision on how to present your case in court. So, when choosing an attorney, be very weary
of attorneys who promise certain results because they're just writing you
checks that you'll never be able to cash. As with everything in life, you get what you
pay for, and what you see is what you get. You wouldn't buy a Pontiac Fiero
and expect the performance of a Ferrari. It is true that there is a sizeable gap in
the hourly rates that different attorneys charge but consider first that there may be
a reason that some attorneys are willing to accept your case for a cheaper rate. Remember, cost and value aren't the same thing. Hiring an attorney who isn't experienced and
skilled in the type of case that you're facing can cost you a LOT more
money in the long run. An inexperienced "cheaper" attorney can ultimately
be quite expensive because you could end up paying
them to make mistakes along the way. If you're lucky, an inexperienced
attorney's mistakes along the way won't cost you a courtroom victory. When you choose an attorney with experience
in your type of case, you're choosing an attorney with value. Regardless of the situation that you're facing,
you're probably not thrilled with the idea of hiring an attorney. Beyond
hiring an attorney, you're probably even less thrilled at the idea of the months, and sometimes
years, that you'll be dealing with this legal issue. The absolute best advice that you'll ever
hear in finding an attorney is to find an attorney that you feel comfortable talking
to. Sure, you may be able to find an attorney
who is cheaper, who has more experience, who holds a more prestigious resume,
or who will promise the world, but in the end, you'll be thankful if you have an attorney
that you can talk to. The same holds true for every type of case
imaginable. If you're a defendant in a criminal case,
how much will it help your case if you're not comfortable telling your
attorney what actually happened? If you're going through a bitter divorce,
you're going to have to share some of your family's deepest secrets with your attorney. If you're building a business,
you're going to have to be painfully honest with your attorney on the financial status
of your business. Long story short, you can use your social
media for sharing the bright, sunny, and happy side of your life, but your attorney
needs to know everything if you want the best advice. How easy is that to do if your attorney doesn't
make you feel comfortable sharing these details without
judgment? When choosing an attorney, choose the one
that you feel comfortable talking to. If you know someone who needs to hire an attorney,
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and don't forget that we post new videos bi-weekly on Thursdays. If
there's a topic you want to see a video for, then tell us in the comments. From all of us here at Matthew Harris Law,
we appreciate you watching.
