5 Questions to Ask a Lawyer

The first meeting with your attorney should give you an idea of how that law firm works and if they're the right choice for your case. These are some questions you should ask your lawyer on your first meeting to help you decide on your legal representative.

1. Do they have experience representing cases like yours?

If you're looking for a lawyer to represent your car accident case, then look for a personal injury attorney with experience in car accident and injury claims. Just as you wouldn't go to an ophthalmologist for knee pain, you wouldn't go to a family lawyer for issues regarding a personal injury claim. Ask them about past cases they have represented and what was the outcome, you want someone with experience fighting for you.

2. How will you communicate with each other?

Establish early on in your case the best method to communicate with your attorney. Depending on how the law firm works you may have more communication with an assistant or several different lawyers working on your case. Ask the attorney about who you should contact regarding questions about your case.

3. How and when will you pay for their services.

Depending on your type of case and the law firm you work with there are different payment arrangements. Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, this means you don't have any upfront costs and the lawyer gets paid until they recover compensation for you. However, other lawyers may work on an hourly rate or a retainer fee, or a combination of both. Ask your attorney about their fees and when they are due.

4. What outcome should you expect with your case.

Ask your lawyer about the complexity of your case, is it something that will be solved quickly or could take years to be finalized. Your attorney may not give you an exact answer, but someone with experience can estimate the outcome.

5. Does your case have to go to trial?

Sometimes trial is necessary to reach the best outcome. However, it all depends on the complexities and details of each case, ask your attorney is they expect to take the case to court or if there are any alternatives besides a trial to solving your case.

Make sure you feel comfortable talking to your attorney about your case and that you feel confident that he or she is committed to reaching the best outcome.