How to Hire a Lawyer in Los Angeles
If you’re not sure how to hire a lawyer in Los Angeles, then here’s your go-to guide on the process.
Learn more now.
How to Hire a Lawyer
We all know that lawyers are there when we need them. However, most people go through life never needing to hire an attorney. Well, that is – until they need one, of course. But then what do they do? Where do they turn? How do they hire a Los Angeles attorney?
We’ve got everything you need to know.
What Type of Lawyer Do You Need?
One of the first steps in hiring a lawyer in Los Angeles is to determine the type of lawyer you need. After all, how are you supposed to hire the right lawyer if you don’t know what it is that you need?
Lawyers are not a one-size-fits-all profession. While they may all go to law school, they each tend to specialize in certain fields. It could be a field they find most interesting and have studied more or maybe it is a field they have experience in.
So, to determine which lawyer is right for you, you have to decide on the type you need. Below are a few examples.
- Personal injury (car accidents, slip and fall, dog bites)
- Estate planning (wills, trusts, estates)
- Sexual harassment (sexual harassment in the workplace)
- Criminal defense lawyer (you are being charged with a crime)
- Family law attorney (divorce, custody, guardianship, prenuptial agreements)
- Employment law attorney (discrimination in the workplace)
- Corporate attorney (starting or selling a business)
Once you know what you are looking for, you can move on.
Experience
Experience level is another huge factor when hiring a lawyer in Los Angeles. Just because an attorney may be dubbed a personal injury attorney doesn’t mean they have experience in all areas of personal injury. For example, they may be wonderful car accidents and have a lot of experience under their belt with bicycle and pedestrian accidents, too. But product liability? Not so much.
If you want to boost your chances of a successful outcome for your case, then you are going to want to ensure that the attorney you hire has experience in cases like yours.
Gather Names of Potential Lawyers
Once you have a better idea of what you are looking for, it is time to start gathering names. You can do this by asking friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, etc. for recommendations. Do your own web search for attorneys, too.
You may also want to seek out your local bar association’s attorney referral service. They will connect you with valuable information and attorneys who practice in the field you are looking for.
Keep a list of the names you gather so you can go back through them later and choose the ones that seem to fit what you are looking for – and ditch the rest.
Do Your Due Diligence
This is your time to do some research. Take those names you gathered and begin searching to learn about the attorney.
A quick Google search will give you basic information about the lawyer, as well as some Google Reviews. These are worth reading, but you don’t want to base your decision on what they have to offer. For instance, one bad review amongst a sea of good ones could come from an isolated experience or just a bad day. In other words, read the reviews and gather an overall consensus – and move on.
Next, check out the attorney’s website. What type of law do they practice? What does their website state about their experience? This will give you a general feel about where their focus is in order to help you determine if this is the lawyer for you.
If their website looks like they could be a match, it is important to take it a step further and look them up on the local bar association to confirm they are in good standing and eligible to practice law in Los Angeles. This is very important.
Further narrow your list by getting rid of those that don’t seem to be a good fit and keep those that are.
Scheduling a Consultation
Ready to keep going? Once you have your list in hand, it is time to schedule a consultation. You can read a lot online these days, but there is nothing that can replace having a one-on-one conversation with the attorney to determine who you want to hire.
Call their office or schedule an appointment for a consultation online if their website allows. You won’t be able to discuss the nitty-gritty details of your case, but it is important to be able to provide the attorney with an overview of what your case is about. Just as you are trying to determine if they are a good fit for you, the attorney has to decide if they want to take on a case like yours.
Questions to Ask Your Potential Attorney
At your consultation, there are a few things you want to discuss with your potential attorney – for instance, an overview of the case as we mentioned above. But that’s not all. Here are a few questions you may want to consider.
- What is their experience handling cases like yours? And the outcomes? Success rate?
- What do they charge? Is it a retainer fee? Or a contingency fee?
- How long do they see your case taking from start to finish?
- If you are seeking a settlement, how much do they think your case is worth?
- Do they have the availability to dedicate time to your case?
- Who will be representing you in the courtroom?
Making Your Decision
Think about your consultations. Who stood out the most? Who had the most experience in your case? Were they easy to communicate with? Did they seem organized and familiar with processes, cases, etc.? Was the attorney’s cost affordable or does their contingency fee seem fair?
Once you have determined who you think makes the best fit for your case, go ahead and confidently hire that attorney. After all, you don’t want to wait too long to get your case moving forward.
Taking the time to follow these steps can ensure that you have the best representation for your case – and the best opportunity to reach the desired outcome.
Are you in search for a certified attorney to represent you?
Let us help you find one today!