Wil’s Domain Weblog

A Warning On Selecting The Wrong Attorney

August 1st, 2008

Why We Posted This Attorney Overview:

Here is a warning on selecting the wrong attorney: You will lose BIG in court! Very BIG! It is imperative that you select the right attorney. Your case depends on your selection: A decision you shouln’t take lightly.

Sooner or later you will need the services of a competent attorney. In fact, the broad scope of services rendered by attorneys (also called lawyers) in which they specialize, include, but not limited to the following list of expertise:

• Adoption and Family Law
• Attorneys
• Bankruptcy Attorneys
• Traumatic Brain Injury Claims
• Business Law
• Car Accident Claims
• Child Custody Law
• Child Support Law
• Civil Law
• Construction Law Attorneys
• Commercial Bankruptcy
• Consumer Bankruptcy
• Consumer Protection
• Corporate Law
• Court Reporters
• Criminal Law
• Debt Collection
• Disability Law Attorneys
• Divorce Law
• Serious Dog Bite Claims
• DUI Attorneys
• DWI Attorneys
• Employment Law
• Employment Law
• Estate Planning Administration
• Family Law
• Federal Taxation Law
• Health Care Law
• Immigration and Naturalization
• Intellectual Property
• Internet Law
• Legal Research
• Labor Law
• Litigation Support
• Medical Negligence Claims
• Malpractice Law
• Non-Profit Law
• Serious Neck Injury Claims
• Paralegals
• Patents
• Paternity Cases
• Personal Injury Attorneys
• Personal Law
• Power of Attorney
• Private Investigators
• Product Liability Law Attorneys
• Process Servers
• Real Estate Law
• Social Security Attorneys
• Trademark Attorneys
• Traffic - Speeding
• Tips On Finding the Right Attorney
• Trial Law
• Whiplash Claims
• Wills, Estate Planning & Probate
• Workers’ Compensation
• Wrongful Deaths

Regarding a compensation claim, you never pay one cent, making The Lawyer’s Referral service a totally GUARANTEED risk free service.

Yes, the choice of an attorney is always your decision. The attorney you select, with whom you are in consultation, is responsible for providing the legal services you need. Should litigation be necessary, you and your attorney will decide how your case will be handled. Need a pre-screened local lawyer?

Here are some tips on finding the right attorney:

The “right” attorney is one who is competent, brings in a good result and keep fees and expenses under control. Here are some steps you can take to ensure you find the right attorney.

Selecing the Right Attorney: Most attorneys who advertise do so in a factual manner, stating their strong points and special expertise.

Consult the American Bar Association and Local Bar Associations: These associations provide valuable background information, and in case of your local bar association, will let you know which attorneys are members of the association.

Meet personally with one or more prospective attorneys.

Because you and your attorney become a “team,” it is imperative that you spend time with a prospective attorney to determine whether he or she will be a good teammate.

Determine the attorney’s fees

Attorney fees are generally determined by one or more of the following:

By the hour

The attorney charges an agreed-upon rate per hour, usually in the increments of 1/10^th of an hour.

Fixed amount

When legal work is routine and predictable (such as the purchase or sale of a home or writing a will), a fixed fee is usually charged.

By a percent of recovery

Also called a “contingency fee,” this arrangement compensates the attorney for an agreed-upon percent of the funds awarded in the case.

When the fee has been agreed upon, get it in writing.

Find pre-screened local lawyer via Legal Match.

Helpful Legal Terms

Attorney: A person who has been trained in law and has been certified to give legal advice or to represent others in legal matters.

Breach of contract: The failure to do what is promised under contract.

Citation: An order by a court, usually for lesser offenses such as a traffic violation, for a person to appear before the court to answers charges. Typically used for lesser offences because it relies on the good faith of the defendant to appear as requested, as opposed to an arrest or bail. Failure to obey a citation often result in a warrant for the arrest of the person.

Codicil: An amendment to an existing will. Does not have to be written by an attorney (the will maker may write it), but it must be written and dated.

Felony/Misdemeanor: A felony is a crime for which the punishment is prision for more than one year or death whereas misdemeanors are crimes of less gravity.

Lien: A property right which remains attached to the property until complete payment has been nade. A lien on a real estate is most often legally registered so that the property can not be sold until the lien is satisfied.

Litigation: A dispute that has become the subject of a formal court action or law suit.

Nolo contendere: This is latin for “I will not defend it.” This plea is used when the defendant delines to refute the evidence of the prosecution. In some jurisdictions, this reponse by the defendant has the same effect as a plea of guilty.

Out-of-court settlement: AN agreement between two litigants to settle a matter privately.

Paralegal: A person who is not a lawyer, nor is acting in that capacity, but who provides limited legal services under the supervision of a lawyer.

Plantiff/Defendant: A person or entity who brings a case to court. Other terms for plantiff include claimant, petitioner or applicant. The person or entity against which the case is being lodged is generally called the defendant.

Power of Attorney: There are times when you may need someone else to act as your legal agent, to make binding decisions on your behalf. A “power of attorney” is a legal document that authorizes a trusted friend, relative or someone else to act as your agent. This person ddoes not have to be an attorney. A special power of attorney authorizes someone to act on your behalf for a specific transaction or situation while a general power of attorney authorizes someone to conduct broad transactions on your behalf. Many powers of attorney have specific expiration date.

Probate: A formal certificate granted by a court that certifies that a will has been proven, validated and registered and which, from that point on, gives the executor the legal authority to execute the will. Probate court is the name given to the court that has this power.

Probation: A type of punishment given out as part of a sentence that means instead of jailing a person, the judge will order the person to report to a probation officer regulary and according to a set schedule.

Retainer: A contract between a lawyer and his or her client(s), under which the lawyer agrees to represent and provide legal advice to the client, in exchange for money.

Summons: This is one of the initial documents issued in a civil suit; giving the defendant notice of the claim and the opportunity to defend it.

Legal Resources:

Looking for a pre-screened local lawyer?
For information on lawyers in your area, you can refer to Legal Match
. You will be directed to a national network of legal services providers. To review the network of participating attorneys, simply follow this Legal Services link to log on. Once you are on the Legal Services Web page review the detailed information on that page.

ABA (American Bar Association)
750 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60611
Tel: (312) 988-5000, Fax: (312) 988-5037

ABA Office of the Executive Director
750 N. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL, 60611
Tel: (312) 988-5225, Fax: (312) 988-5151

Disclaimer:

Adoption & family law, attorneys, bankruptcy attorneys, business law, child custody law, child support law, civil law, construction law attorneys, consumer protection, corporate law, court reporters, criminal law, debt collection, disability law attorneys, divorce law, DUI/DWI attorneys, employment law, estate planning administration, expert witnesses, family law, federal taxation law, health care law, immigration & naturalization, labar law, legal research, litigation support, malpractice law, paralegals, patents, paternity/support, personal injury, private investigators, process servers, product liability attorneys, product liability law attorneys, real estate law, social security attorneys, traffic cases, speeding cases, trial law, wills, estate planning & probate, and workers’ compensation.

You, the potential client, are urged to make your own independent investigation and evaluation of any lawyer being considered. The aforementioned sited are listed without recommending, adopting or guaranteeing their content. Other related sites are available for your consideration.

Tags attorney Attorneys child custody law child support law civil law corporate law criminal law divorce law dui dwi employment law estate planning family law immigration & naturalization labor law lawyer lawyers malpractice law personal injury probate real estate law tort attorneys trial law wills workers compensation

Entry Filed under: Attorneys Lawyers