1. Look at Their Results
Good attorneys get good results. It’s that simple. An attorney with many high value outcomes tends to have them because they are better at maximizing the value of their cases and at maintaining their clients’ trust than an attorney with less of them.
Beyond merely looking at the numbers from the case results scrolling across an attorney’s website, we recommend asking any attorney to tell you about a case they particularly liked working on and why. An attorney with many great outcomes whose answer to that question does not match the priorities you have for your case might ultimately prove to be a less than ideal fit for you.
2. Read Their Reviews
Every attorney is going to have their share of criticism online. It’s the nature of the world we live in, but beware of attorneys who have a disproportionate amount of negative feedback. Negative reviews can severely damage the business of a law firm, so a multitude of bad reviews is a bad sign. As they say, where there is smoke, there is fire.
Additionally, if you are evaluating a large law firm, it is likely your case will be assigned to an attorney who you have never heard of. We recommend checking their individual reviews on sites like Avvo, Justia, and Yelp, as the quality of service given to clients can vary widely even within the same firm depending on which attorney is handling your case.
3. Pay Attention to How Well They Communicate
Attorneys are well known for being busy, but the good ones are organized enough to remain responsive. Even if they are unable to take your call, it is entirely reasonable for you to expect a response the same day you contacted them. At minimum, they should have organized their support staff well enough to ensure someone will respond to you on their behalf.
In short, good lawyers communicate, and if you are having trouble communicating with an attorney before even signing with them, that is a bad sign of things to come.
4. Note Whether They Clearly Explain Their Fees and Costs
It is standard practice for Plaintiff Attorneys to provide a free consultation to review your potential case in order to decide whether you are the right fit for one another. During that consultation, or even during the preceding call to schedule it, the attorney should have no issue going over their fee structure and explaining the types of costs you can reasonably expect to be incurred on your claim. Good attorneys have no issue explaining this.
Also, their fees and costs should make sense. Does their fee increase for no reason? Is their fee higher than their competitors? Are they trying to charge you exorbitant flat costs, citing high “administrative” costs? A good attorney will have a fee structure that is fair and makes sense, and he or she will be able to explain the costs of pursuing your case.
5. Use Your Brain but Don’t Forget Your Gut
We liken the attorney-client relationship on injury claims to a marriage. These are long-lasting relationships built on trust. An attorney you are considering may check every proverbially box, but still not be the right attorney for you. Find one who you will be able to stand talking to for the next several years (your claim can take that long). Also note whether they tend to communicate in your preferred method. Are you big on texting, but your attorney only corresponds via telephone? There are countless factors to assess when deciding whether an attorney is the right fit for you. The best advice we can give is to look at all of the above tips, but don’t forget to trust your gut.
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