Are you looking to hire a lawyer in the near future? Well, before doing so, it is important that you consider a few key factors so that you make the right decision for you. Keep reading to learn what these important factors are and how they may influence your decision in hiring a lawyer.
Level of experience
Similar to their area of expertise, a lawyer’s level of experience in dealing with certain cases is also another factor to consider. Most likely, the more experience a lawyer has working in a specific area of law, the more likely your chances are of gaining some great advice or winning a case. Although this is not always the case, the level of experience a lawyer has is still important to consider.
Area of expertise
One of the most important factors to consider when deciding whether or not to work with a lawyer is their area of expertise. There are many areas of law which lawyers may be well practised in, and to increase your chances of success (in terms of winning a case), it is best to work with a lawyer who is familiar with the area of law your case resides in.
For example, when it comes to divorce settlements, you should work with a lawyer whose area of expertise is family law (or even more specifically divorce). Likewise, if you are looking for advice on trade marks, then a business lawyer with expertise in intellectual property (IP) law may be suitable. As such, be sure to consider a lawyer’s area of expertise before hiring them.
Price
Depending on your financial circumstances, you will need to hire a lawyer whose quotes and pricing fits well with your budget. It is not worth hiring a lawyer who is outside of your budget if you will be struggling to pay them, and your matter for visiting the lawyer is not too important.
Pricing may vary depending on a lawyer’s area of expertise and level of experience, and hence you should weigh up these factors when considering the pricing. The price of a lawyer’s services may also depend on the physical area they are located in, the size of the company they work for, and other amenities they may provide.
Online or in-person
A more modern factor you should be considering when hiring a lawyer is whether or not their services are offered online, versus in-person. Nowadays, there are many online and cloud-based legal services, whereby you can converse with your lawyer via digital mediums such as video conferencing, voice calling or instant messaging.
Online legal services can be extremely convenient and accessible, allowing you to save on travel time and speak with a lawyer from the comfort of your own home. However, if you are one to enjoy in-person interactions, an online lawyer may not be one for you. It is important to consider these additional factors so that you can find a lawyer who works just right with you.
Make sure to consider these above factors when hiring a lawyer so that you gain a worthwhile and overall positive experience working with a lawyer. You can also refer to the Law Society of South Australia’s website for more law firm recommendations.
