There might be a time in your life when you’ll need an attorney. Not all legal cases provide a public defender, and that can be a problem if you don’t have the financial ability to hire a lawyer. Attorneys are generally expensive—especially good, experienced ones. So how do you find an affordable attorney, who can also meet your legal needs?
There are lots of questions you might have. How do you find an affordable attorney? How can you pay for it? Where do you even start? All of these questions and more can be answered if you follow a few steps. Here are some things you’ll want to consider during your search for representation.
Know What Kind of Attorney You Need
Not all lawyers are created equally. Most have specializations in fields all across the legal spectrum. If you’re charged with a crime, you need to seek out a criminal defense lawyer. However, if you’ve been hurt, you might need a personal injury lawyer, who has served the personal injury legal needs of those who have been in accidents. This logic applies to all sorts of situations, such as divorce, real estate, bankruptcy, etc.
Making sure you know the type of lawyer you need is essential to your success. Become familiar with your case and then find out what kind of lawyer can help you.
Do Your Research
Once you have figured out what kind of lawyer you need, you can search for ones in your area. The internet has a variety of ways to find attorneys. Try using search words such as, “local attorney,” “law firm near me,” “affordable attorney in (insert city where you live.)” Include words like affordable, accessible, or pro bono to give yourself plenty of options. Other ways of finding local attorneys are contacting your local bar association directly, or asking friends and family for any recommendations.
Your potential choices might have websites. An attorney having a website is a good sign, so check out any that you can find. This can be a way for you to become familiar with them and their practices.
You should also check online for reviews and testimonials. Sometimes finding an affordable attorney with a high success rate can seem too good to be true. However, it could also be one of the most helpful things in your legal situation. So always do your due diligence, and make sure you know the difference.
Picking the Right Affordable Lawyer for You
After searching the internet or asking for recommendations, you’ll become overwhelmed. Even if there are only three or four attorneys for you to choose from, choosing the right one is a stressful task. A good way to find the best pick for you is to book consultations.
When you contact a law firm or attorney, always ask if they charge for consultations. Make as many free appointments as you’d like, so you can find an affordable attorney that is best for you.
At these consultations, there are a few things you’ll want to make sure to ask. Bring a list if you think you might forget all the questions you have. These sorts of questions will help you determine which lawyer is best for you:
- How long have they been practicing?
- Have they had any instances of misconduct?
- What are their success rates like?
- Have they worked on cases like yours previously?
- How would they approach your case?
- When can they start working on your case?
- What is their rate? How do they feel about working pro bono?
Do some research beforehand about the concerns you have, and know what answers you’re looking for. Take notes during the consultation, and make sure you ask questions to clarify anything you’re unsure about.
After following all of these steps, you should be able to find an affordable attorney with as little difficulty as possible.
