Hiring a lawyer is a lot like hiring a doctor.  You know you want a good one, but unless you’re one yourself it can be kind of difficult to evaluate what you’re getting.

There are three categories to consider:

(1) Is the lawyer qualified to represent you?

(2) Does the lawyer have the experience to get a successful outcome in your case?

(3) Can you get along with them?

Qualified

Find out where the lawyer went to law school.  Did they go to a good school?  How well did they do in school?  Did they receive any academic honors?  Don’t be afraid to ask—you’re the one that has been injured, this is your case.  If your case goes to trial, by the time you’re done working with this lawyer, he or she will know a great deal about you, your background, your medical history, and your daily life.  If the attorney you’re interviewing is offended about providing some basic info about them, look elsewhere.

Next, you want a lawyer that specializes in representing claimants, also known as plaintiffs, in personal injury cases.  The law has become very specialized.  There are business, family, patent, class action, social security, employment and criminal lawyers.  The days of one lawyer hanging a shingle and practicing competently in many different areas are over.  It is too difficult to dabble in multiple areas of law.  You don’t want a dabbler—you want someone that dedicates their entire practice to representing claimants in personal injury cases.

Experienced

The next category you’re looking for in a lawyer is experience.  Does the lawyer have the experience to handle your case to a successful resolution?

Find out how long the lawyer has been practicing.  All lawyers need to start somewhere, but they do not need to start on your case.  If the lawyer has been practicing for only a few years, find someone with more experience.

Bear in mind that the number of years a lawyer has been practicing does not in itself tell the whole story.  In personal injury work, what is more important is the amount of the lawyer’s trial experience.  Most lawyers who handle personal injury cases do not go to court.  Insurance companies make it their business to keep track of which lawyers do and do not try cases.  This is important because insurance companies deal with risk.  A lawyer that goes to court presents a far greater risk than a lawyer that never goes to court.  Lawyers that have a reputation for only settling cases receive below par settlement offers because they do not pose much of a risk to the insurance company.  On the other hand, lawyers that have a reputation for being willing to go to trial and obtaining good results command the highest settlement offers.

Find out if the lawyer has any specialized training in trial work.  A law degree alone does not give someone the expertise to be a good trial lawyer any more than a medical degree, by itself, gives someone the expertise to be a good surgeon.  Advanced training and experience are essential.

Can I get along with them?

The last category to consider is whether you can get along with the lawyer.  The lawyer’s bed side manner is important for a lot of reasons.  First of all, you’re going to be spending a lot of time with your lawyer, especially if your case goes to trial.  If your personalities seem incompatible now, imagine how you might feel a year from now when you are spending large blocks of time with this person preparing for trial.

Ask yourself whether the lawyer communicates well.  Do they listen without interrupting you?  Are they patient?  Do they answer your questions?  Are they easy to talk to?  Do they instill a sense of trust and confidence?  Do they present well?  Good!  Because the lawyer is going to have to do all of that when they represent you and present your case to the insurance company adjuster, the insurance company lawyer, and ultimately, if your case goes to trial, a judge and a jury.  If the lawyer cannot communicate effectively with you in the comfort of the lawyer’s office, it does not bode well for the lawyer’s ability to represent you in a more hostile setting when the pressure is on.

Where should you start?  Spend some time learning about the lawyer’s qualifications and experience.  Then call the lawyer and speak with them on the phone about your case.  If you get a good feeling, make an appointment to meet in person.

When you sit down to meet with the lawyer, do not be afraid to ask the hard questions.  Remember, it is your case, and you are interviewing them for a job.  This is an excellent opportunity to see if the lawyer engenders the kind of trust and confidence you will need to have in your lawyer.  Take the time to ensure you have a level of comfort with the lawyer.

Kline Law Offices P.C. offers a free consultation.  Contact attorney Rob Kline by phone, or request a free case evaluation by email.