These are some of our most frequently asked questions about the hiring of lawyers and the practice of law.
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Why should I have a lawyer?Lawyers undergo years of academic training to help them evaluate a case and research the law. Experienced lawyers will often have years of experience in their chosen fields, and will have honed their ability to analyze legal problems. This training and experience provides significant advantages in negotiations, not to mention advocating your case before the court. Experienced lawyers know which papers to file, where to file them, and how to write them to maximize your chances of success. Once the right papers have been filed, a lawyer will know how best to argue your case.
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What is the best way to find a lawyer?Referrals from friends, family members, and trusted business associates are often helpful, especially if the source of your referral was satisfied by the lawyer's service. Most lawyers know many other lawyers in the community can can provide referrals if a matter is outside of their chosen area of experience. Many clients also find an attorney through the local bar association in the county.
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Why are some lawyers so expensive?In a nutshell, "good lawyers aren't cheap, and cheap lawyers aren't good."
Many attorneys have no desire to investigate your case, perform legal research, fight with the other side, or argue your case before a judge or jury. Because of the high cost of legal education and minimal continuing legal education, most attorneys who have rock-bottom prices cannot do any real work on your case, or they will lose money. If your attorney does not work on your case, he or she cannot advise you as to whether there are any facts or law in your favor, let alone argue your case.
In law, like most things, you get what you pay for. -
If I don't like my lawyer, can I hire a different one?Under California law, the client always has the right to end the attorney-client relationship at any time. Generally, no one is forced to continue paying for a lawyer who provides poor service. On the other hand, it is usually best to be sure of your lawyer before you hire him or her. Some courts will not grant extra time for a new lawyer to prepare the case, especially if the matter has been pending for a long time or when the client attempts to hire new counsel at the last moment.
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What things should I look for when hiring an attorney?If you intend to enforce your rights in court, whether the case is civil, or criminal, look for experience. In particular, you should look for court experience. Clients generally obtain better settlements in every kind of case when the other side knows that the attorney will be prepared for trial. Experienced attorneys get better results. You should also look at the lawyer's academic achievements or professional honors or leadership positions which indicate how well known and respected the attorney is by other lawyers and judges.
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What should I bring to my initial consultation?You should bring any records or other documentation relevant to the matter you need help with. The attorney will need to review some of your records before giving you an opinion and may not be able to give an opinion if your records are incomplete. The more information you have available, the better. Generally, it is better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.