Five Costly Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Lawyer

At some point in time, everyone will require some sort of legal assistance. Whether you’re looking for someone to represent you after you’ve been hurt in an accident or you’re looking for a lawyer who can assist you in planning your will and estate, it is important that you hire the right lawyer or law firm for the job. However, finding a professional and reliable lawyer is not as easy as it may look.

While hiring a lawyer, people sometimes commit an error of judgment that often, instead of fixing a problem, makes the matter worse. To help you steer clear of these errors, I’ve compiled a list of common mistakes people make when hiring a lawyer.

Hiring a lawyer based on the cost of legal fees. When you are looking for a lawyer, the lawyer's legal fees should not be your sole consideration. Cheap fees do not mean that the lawyer is bad nor do expensive fees mean that the lawyer is the best. While cost is an important factor when looking for a lawyer, clients should ensure it is the least essential factor as it does not override other pertinent factors like experience, ability, and reputation.

Falling for misleading advertisements. Advertisements can be quite deceiving and must not be used as a basis for choosing a lawyer. Whenever you see promises or cheaper than normal legal fees advertised, always call the lawyer to confirm the promises or legal fees are real and not misleading.

Failure to ask questions. Clients not asking enough questions can result in unforeseen circumstances and issues. Many customers are shy to ask lawyers questions because they are often intimidated. However, this should not be the case. The best way to clear all your doubts and address your concerns is to ask pertinent and relevant questions.

Not shopping around. Do not hire the first lawyer you meet. Set appointments, either on the telephone or in-person, with as many lawyers as possible. Many lawyers will provide free consultations. Take advantage of your free consultation to get to know the lawyer to ensure the lawyer is someone you like and will be able to work with. If you do not feel confident hiring any lawyer you meet, don’t! Keep shopping and looking around until you find the right lawyer for your case or issue.

Not discussing availability in advance. If you hire a lawyer who does not or will not have the time to take you on as a client, your legal needs will suffer. As a client, you need to make sure you discuss the amount of time you require for your case or issue and hire a lawyer who is able to make that time commitment.

To get quality legal assistance, reach out to Kala Law Firm Professional Corporation. I offer direct and personable legal services for real estate closings, family law, wills and estates, and corporate law, along with consulting services.

I ensure that all the questions that my clients have are answered and they are updated at all times about their legal matters. To learn more about the services that I provide, please click here. If you have any questions about a legal matter, I am happy to help. Get in touch with me here.