Choosing the right attorney to represent you or your business is one of the most impactful decisions you’ll ever make. The right attorney can make the difference between your business failing and succeeding. It can be the difference between an innocent or guilty verdict, and the difference between paying a fine or serving jail time. Your attorney is your advocate and your representation, so it needs to be someone you feel comfortable with. It needs to be someone trustworthy. It needs to be someone who understands your situation.
So how do you find the perfect lawyer? What criteria should you be looking for? And once you meet with a lawyer, how can you tell if it’s the right fit?
When you’re talking to your lawyer, you should feel like you’re both on the same page. You’ve probably heard someone describe a person as, “Oh yeah, so-and-so really speaks my language.” Your lawyer should speak your language. You should feel confident that when you express your needs, concerns, and expectations, they really get it. You should also make sure you feel like you understand the information they’re passing on to you. Legal issues are often complex, but a good lawyer can, in a sense, translate things out of “legalese” and into language that you can understand. Understanding each other is a matter of both communication and personality.
Your lawyer needs to be licensed to practice, of course, but he or she also needs to have the proper know-how in the certain area of law that you need help with. You should feel confident that they have the knowledge and ability to represent you well. A good lawyer works hard to stay up to date on changes to the law, and is willing to research the particularities of your case that may be less familiar to them.
You need to find a lawyer that you can afford because you do not want to find yourself in a situation where you cannot pay for the services you receive. You should understand your lawyer’s pricing structure before doing business together.
If you’re looking for a lawyer and just don’t know where to start, the Knoxville Bar Association’s LRIS is a great place to begin. We match you with a lawyer that suits your needs. Our trusted attorneys provide you with a free consultation so that you can decide if it’s the right fit. Want to learn more? Call us at (865) 522-7501 or visit knoxbar.org/lawyerfinder.
The materials contained in this blog are intended to, and do, provide only a broad overview of various legal topics. The general information contained in this material is not designed nor intended to be a substitute for legal advice on a specific legal issue or question. In addition, the information provided in this material is only general advice and may not be applicable to apparent similar individual problems, since only slight changes in facts change the applicable advice. If you have a legal problem or question, please consult an attorney.
Any publication, distribution, or other use of these materials without the express written consent of the Knoxville Bar Association is prohibited.
