Choosing The Right Lawyer: A How-To Guide
Now that you know you need to hire a lawyer, your next
step will be to select the right lawyer for your matter. There’s certainly no
shortage of lawyers in Ontario, so finding one won’t be a problem. The
challenge will lie in selecting the RIGHT lawyer, which will determine whether
your experience is pleasant or frustrating. At LawyerSelect, we help you find a
lawyer based on your specific needs by filtering the possible candidates based
on experience, cost, location and even gender.
Some Helpful Hints When Hiring a Lawyer
The obvious first step in the lawyer-hiring process is
selecting one who practices law in the area related to your matter. So, for
example, if you’ve been charged with a criminal offence, you’ll want to narrow
your search down to criminal lawyers. But it doesn’t end there: you should
further narrow your search down to the criminal lawyers who have experience
defending the particular charge that you’re facing. So, if you’ve got an
outstanding DUI charge, you’ll want to ensure that the criminal lawyer you hire
has experience defending and litigating DUIs.
Your second step in the lawyer-hiring process should
focus on finding lawyers who possess the following qualities:
·
Firstly, they should have a clearly articulated
fee-structure, thereby allowing you to assess whether you can afford them. The
fee-structure should also clearly state what services are included as part of
that fee.
·
Secondly, you’ll want to ensure that the lawyer
is a good communicator, because it’s imperative that you’re kept up to date on
the status of your matter. Make sure to ask who you’ll be dealing with –
whether it’s the lawyer or someone from his/her staff. This is an important
question to ask, as many clients become dissatisfied as a result of not dealing
directly with the lawyer themselves.
·
Finally, it's important to do your research on
the lawyer before hiring him or her. You should look online for reviews from
past clients, as well as conduct a disciplinary check with the Law Society of
Upper Canada to ascertain whether the lawyer has faced any disciplinary
proceedings in the past.
Types of Law Firms
Law firms come in all shapes and sizes, from the sole
practitioner to the big Bay Street law firms with hundreds of lawyers spread
over several cities. As a general rule, you should categorize a law firm based
on:
1. Its
size;
2. Type
of practice; and
3. Practice
areas.
Picking a law firm will depend on various factors, such
as your geographical location, financial means, personal preferences, and your
legal matter.
A sole practitioner is exactly what it sounds like – a law
firm run by a single person. They generally practice is several legal
disciplines, but they may also specialize in one particular area of the law.
They’re typically less expensive than the larger firms, and they usually
provide clients with more of a one-on-one approach, which really helps solidify
the lawyer-client relationship. Some downsides to a sole practitioner are that
they may lack the necessary experience to handle your matter, especially if it’s
outside their area of competency, or they’re a newly licenced lawyer.
A small law firm, which is sometimes referred to as a
boutique law firm, can have anywhere from 2 to 10 lawyers. A small law firm can
often give the feel of a solo law firm, but has the benefit of your lawyer
being able to collaborate with his or her colleagues when there is a
complicated legal matter. Multiple lawyers can also mean that they can help
with a broader range of legal topics.
Large law firms can range from several dozens of lawyers
to several thousands of employees including lawyers, paralegals, and
administrative staff. Large law firms can exist in multiple cities, provinces,
and even countries. Large law firms often employ lawyers in various legal
practice areas, and often have both individual and corporate clients. While you
might feel more confident hiring a lawyer from a large firm, be ready for a
large bill because lawyers at large firms usually charge very high rates. Also,
don’t expect the informality that you’ll have with a sole practitioner or a
lawyer at a small firm. Lawyers working at large firms tend to have a laundry
list of clients, and you may feel like you’ve gotten lost in the shuffle.
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