Finding the best Texas attorney for your case can be very challenging. First, there are many big and small law firms, each claiming to be the best at what they do. So the vast number of options alone is enough to get you confused.
Second, unless you have been in a legal battle before, chances are you don’t know how to pick the right lawyer. This is a real problem because most people end up hiring the cheapest or most convenient option. The strategy almost always ends up in a disaster.
So in today’s review, we shall look at six important things that you need to think about when looking for an attorney in Texas.
1. Experience Matters
An attorney can only be as good as his or her experience in handling a particular case. Don’t get me wrong; you can still get incredible services from a lawyer fresh from college. And in fact, the less experienced lawyers will charge you lower rates. But do you really want to leave the fate of your delicate case in the hands of an inexperienced attorney just to save a few bucks?
Therefore, unless you are dealing with a basic case with minimal stakes, it’s best to invest in a veteran.
Here is the other thing, the experience should be relevant to your case. An attorney could have decades of experience, but this expertise is limited to corporate law. Meanwhile, what you are dealing with is a criminal offense. Do you think such an attorney will be in the best position to defend your charges in court?
So, go beyond the general experience and narrow down your option. Look at the case you have and find a lawyer who specializes in that particular subject. This brings us nicely to our second point.
2. Understand Which Lawyer You Need
Gone are the days when a single attorney was the jack of all trades. Today, the practice is very specialized. Like medicine, you will find specific attorneys for different types of issues.
For instance, some focus on corporate law alone while others specialize in estate planning, bankruptcy, personal injury, etc.
This means that the right attorney will always vary depending on the case in question. So, just because an attorney saved your friend from criminal charges doesn’t mean they’re automatically good for your car accident case. What you really need for such a case is an auto accident lawyer in Houston to represent you. Such a lawyer has the relevant training and experience to deliver the best outcome.
3. Client Reviews Are Important
When you search for a restaurant or store online, do you check the customer reviews before interacting with the business? Case studies show that most consumers consider reviews before working with a business. Do you know why? Because the customer reviews give you a good idea of what you can expect from the store.
The same logic applies when looking for a lawyer. A law firm with terrible or zero online reviews should raise red flags. On the other hand, an attorney with lots of satisfied customers online will almost always deliver the best experience.
So, before you even sit down to discuss your case with an attorney, do a background check and see how they’re rated. And when you finally interview the attorney, ask them to provide several referees or satisfied clients they’ve served before. A reputable lawyer will have no problem providing this information.
4. Big Firm Vs. Small Firm
Texas law firms come in all sizes. You can find a one-man team and, in other cases, a giant firm with thousands of attorneys. Which one is good for you?
Well, that will depend on various factors, the key of which is the specifics of your case. If you are dealing with a complex matter that requires lots of effort, picking a big firm is the right step. Such a firm will have sufficient resources to give your case the attention it deserves.
On the other hand, a less complex case is usually best handled by a small firm. They will provide personalized services that you cannot get from a big firm. Plus, you’ll save more on legal fees without compromising your case.
5. Don’t Ignore The Fee Structure
Finally, understand the fee structure of the lawyer before hiring them. Request the attorney to lay out all the fees.
Many clients get surprised with a hefty invoice covering expenses they didn’t even know about. Some rogue lawyers may even hide certain expenses from their clients until it’s too late for the client to go back.
Avoid such issues by getting all the relevant costs in advance.
6. Check the Legitimacy of the Reviews
So you have checked out a few reviews and have whittled your list of potential attorneys down to just a few. Something that is worth thinking about is where those reviews are coming from. It’s no good just checking on their website because those reviews will be filtered, so will it be on their social media pages. Try sites like Trustpilot and others for real reviews that the company can’t alter to give a clear blue view of their business.
7. What are Their Communication Skills Like
When you ring the office of the attorney how did they respond to you? If you found them to be knowledgeable and polite it will probably mean they have good communication skills and moving forward with your case that will be important as there is often a lot of complicated law talk that will need to be explained to you.
8. Keeping in Touch
One thing people don’t like about having to use an attorney is the amount of perseverance you will need because things often take a long time. So do make sure they are keeping in touch with you all the way along as long gaps in communication will only leaving you feeling nervous and more anxious about the result.
9. Qualification and Skills
What qualifications and skills does your chosen attorney have? This might sound like something irrelevant if they have a lot of positive reviews, but if you have a specific case regarding a particular type of law hiring someone who is more qualified in that area will give you a much better chance of success. To be honest, any good attorney will brush up on their skills regarding your case anyway, but it is still worth looking up at the start.
10. Do Your Own Homework
No attorney or lawyer knows it all, especially regarding your specific case. So feel free to do a little bit of homework yourself. See if there are any other cases that are relevant to yours. You don’t have to know the ins and outs of law to do this, but a small amount of research will help both your case and your attorney to get the result you need.
Having the right lawyer by your side makes all the difference. So use the above tips to find the best Houston attorney for your case.
