No one is excited to hire an attorney. Usually, when people have to hire a local Puyallup attorney it is because something really bad has happened in their life and they are looking for an attorney they can trust and who will help provide them with the best legal advice possible. Finding the right lawyer for your issue can be problematic and can cause a lot of stress. People are already under enough stress having to deal with a legal issue that searching for the right attorney can be overwhelming. People that are facing legal battles just want the issue to be resolved as quickly as possible so sometimes they feel like they just don’t have time to do the proper research. Do not expect to find a good attorney by just Googling “divorce attorney” or “attorney in Puyallup”, there are certain steps that one must take to make sure that they get the best legal representation possible. Lawyers do so much more than dispense legal advice, they help to educate their clients about their legal issues and provide strategic advice on the best way to tackle the problem.
According to www.Justice.gov, the U.S. Department of Justice website, The Annual Statistical Report states that during Fiscal Year 2013, the United States Attorneys’ offices received 172,024 criminal matters. This represents an increase of 8,193 criminal matters from the previous year. That means that more people are getting into legal trouble and are in desperate need of a good lawyer.
There are certain terms you should probably know before hiring an attorney. Here are a few definitions that will help you before you hire an attorney.
Contingency Fees: A contingency fee means that your lawyer only gets paid this fee if there is a favorable result in your case—a court win or a settlement in your favor. The percentage is pretty high usually, however, they are working for free. Also, if they don’t get anything then you’re not on the hook for any fees either.
Flat Fees: A flat fee means that the lawyer charges one price for each consultation, or for an entire case, no matter how much time the case takes to get resolved. Be sure to shop around and ask other lawyers what their flat fees are to see if there is someone who offers a lower fee.
Hourly Rate: Lawyers often charge an agreed-upon hourly rate for their work, and the work of their assistants. The hourly rate applies to both consultations and all the work that is done on your case.
Court Costs: Be sure that you know whether you will owe anything in court costs for your legal issue. A good lawyer will be able to estimate court costs in a given situation, and whether or not you will be able to obtain court costs from an opposing party in a favorable settlement or judgment.
Filing Fees: Courts charge money for people to be able to file lawsuits and other court actions, like divorce and bankruptcy. Ask your lawyer to explain these fees before you sign a fee agreement and make sure to add these costs onto your legal bill.
One of the best ways to find a Puyallup attorney is to talk to people that you know that may have gone through a similar legal issue. Reach out to your community, your friends and family to see if anyone has a personal referral. Make sure to ask what legal issues that attorney specializes in because an estate planning attorney will not be very effective when it comes to divorce. Most people incorrectly assume that all lawyers know the answers to all legal questions. Most attorneys have a general understanding of most legal issues but they usually specialize in one particular area. It is important to be specific what type of legal issue you are having when trying to get personal referrals. This will ensure that you are dealing with an attorney that can give you sound and specific advice that relates to your specific problem.
Some online service like www.avvo.com can provide a directory of Puyallup attorneys as well as reviews for each attorney. Each attorney will have a profile that will provide all the information that you will need in order to find a good lawyer. You can search through the directory on www.avvo.com by the area of law that they practice. You can search through different practices areas like Puyallup Family Law or Criminal or view lawyers by state. Make sure to carefully read each profile and each review to get a full background and understanding in the way that a particular attorney deals with clients and his or her cases.
Armed with information, the next step is to start reaching out to attorneys in your city who practice the area of law that your issue falls under. Some attorneys provide a free consultation for potential clients. Call and speak to their office to see if they provide a free consultation. Also, find out what types of payment they accept and what make sure to ask what their minimum rate is per hour. This will give you a general idea of what each attorney will charge for your case. Some attorneys offer payment plans in order to help ease the pain of the costs associated with a legal bill. If the attorney does provide a free consultation, make sure to use that time to take notes and to be very forthcoming with all aspects of your legal problem. You should schedule an appointment and discuss your situation. It’s also a good time to get a good feel for him/her and make sure you’re both a good match. Be upfront and honest about your legal issue. Use your best judgment and gut instinct to determine whether the attorney will be a good fit for you and your problem. You can also look online and see what reviews are available from previous customers.
Looking for an attorney can be a daunting and stressful process. Arming yourself with facts and information is the best way to ensure that you will find an attorney that will be best fit for you and your legal issue. It will take some time, taking the time to research different attorney’s will help benefit you and your case in the long run. It is important to do both word of mouth and Internet research to help you get your case resolved as quickly as possible by finding the right attorney for you.