If you’re considering court action, your first important decision is likely which barrister is right for you. How do you find a good lawyer?
speak with buddies and family. Probabilities are good that someone you know has exploited a counsel or knows someone that has. Ask friends and family who they used and about their experience. Were they pleased with the service they were provided? Ask for specifics about why they did – or did not- feel their counsel provided good service. Learn if the counsel returned phone calls or e-mails in a timely manner, whether the case was pursued and finished in a reasonable time, whether the barrister listened to requests and concerns, whether the person was kept updated about the standing of his or her case, whether fees charged were fair and bills detailed enough to grasp what legal work was completed on the case.
Referral Services. There are a bunch of referral services in Texas. The State Bar of Texas provides a listing of referral services round the state. Referral services require barristers to register and usually require counsel members to carry malpractice insurance. In the Austin and central Texas area, contact the lawyer Referral Service of Central Texas. Referral services often also set a restriction on the charge charged for a preliminary consultation. The barrister Referral Service of Central Texas requires its member counsels to supply a 30 minute consultation for $20.
Courthouse. Go watch lawyers in action. In family law matters, divorce, kid visitation, juvenile support, etc, you can find hearings going on at the Travis County Civil Courthouse on Monday, wednesday, Thursday and Fri.. Except in rare circumstances, court proceedings are open to the general public. Find a hearing to observe by asking at the information desk or check the index of courtrooms and research till you find a hearing to look at. You may enter and leave a courtroom while proceedings are continuing, but remember to be respectful and quiet. Turn off cell phones and pagers and don’t bring food or drinks into the courtroom. It also recommended to not bring your children. Some of the problems in cases like these might not be acceptable for children, who likely should be in school in any event, and children can have a tough time sitting still and quiet during proceedings.
after you find a hearing to look at, what do you look for? Real life legal proceedings are virtually never as exciting and suspenseful as they are TV, but you will be able to gather important info regarding a barrister by watching him or her in court. Is the barrister conducting him or herself in a professional manner? Remember that your lawyer will be an extension of you – representing you and your interests. I submit that a pro, courteous and zealous fan is better than one who is rude and unprofessional. Is the counsel prepared? Each lawyer has another way to conduct hearings, but notice whether he appears to have documents organised, asks great questions and seems to have a plan. Observe the lawyer’s style to work out if it convincing to you and compatible with your character and needs. Watch long enough to get a sense about the lawyers and move to another hearing. If you find a counsel you would like to speak with, ask for their contact info in a break or put down the name and call later on.
Ask about legal fees – does the solicitor charge per hour or provide services for a flat fee? Will you need to supply an up front butler or deposit. If so , how much? What happens to that butler or deposit at the end of the case? Will it be returned to you? How often will you be billed? What sorts of expenses will you be charged for? Does the counsel accept mastercards or provide a payment plan? What happens if you get behind on your bill?
Ask about lawyer accessibility and communications – does the barrister have a policy about the time period it takes to return calls or reply to emails? Does the barrister use e-mail in their practice at all? Will you be able to reach the counsel thru cell phone? How will the barrister keep you informed about the standing of your case? I give my client’s my cell-phone number for use during business hours and make every effort to return calls or respond to mails same day, or the day after. Sometimes that suggests I call clients at 7pm or reply to an e-mail at 10pm but I have not had a customer unhappy to be contacted after hours. You will find that many Seattle lawyers call clients after hours, as do Denver lawyers and Charlotte lawyers.