The best way to find an attorney is probably by word of mouth. Ask your friends if they know a good honest lawyer who handles cases like yours. If you know a local attorney, you can also ask them for a recommendation. Many attorneys in the Dallas area know a lot of other attorneys and can refer you to a lawyer who practices in the area you’re looking for.
Don’t hire a lawyer unless you trust him. If you aren’t comfortable with the first lawyer you speak to, move on to the next one. There are many excellent and reputable lawyers in this city.
Ask your potential lawyer about their consultation fees. Many attorneys offer a free consultation. You can get a much better sense of how you feel about an attorney by talking with them face-to-face, and you can find out if they are a good fit for your case.
See what your attorney’s clients have said about them. You can use websites such as Avvo for this. Look for attorneys with plenty of reviews, high ratings, and reviews of cases similar to yours.
Never hire a lawyer that tells you or implies that he has some special influence with the judge or prosecutor. Those people aren’t going to risk their jobs for you, or your attorney, even if they are best friends. Most of the litigators in the Dallas area know all of the judges, particularly if they’ve been practicing law for a long time. The personal relationship between your lawyer and others usually isn’t going to affect your case in any significant way.
Your lawyer can’t guarantee the outcome of a contested case, but he should be able to give you a general idea of what to expect including a worst and best case scenario.
You deserve to know how much your case will cost, including the down payment (retainer), payment details, and billing. You also should be told of any additional expenses prior to them being incurred or billed to you.
Get it in writing! If your lawyer will not put his fees and employment contract in writing, find another lawyer.
Demand that your lawyer be specific in describing his experience in handling cases like yours. Hire a different lawyer if you are not comfortable with the experience level of the attorney you speak with.
You need to determine if your legal issue would be best handled by an attorney who focuses their practice on a single area that matches your legal needs. Some attorneys handle personal injury cases, family law, and a dozen other practice areas. A generalist is fine for some simple legal issues, but it’s hard to learn the ins and outs of complex legal matters unless you work with them every day for years on end.
Be realistic. Unless you are paying your lawyer an extremely large fee, don’t expect him to be able to return all of your phone calls within half a day. A good lawyer will always be very busy and you should allow him 48 hours to return your calls.
If you hire a trial lawyer, you have to understand that he will be in trial at times for several consecutive days. If you expect a return phone call, leave a day and night telephone number.
Be prepared for the long haul. Many cases that go to trial take a long time to develop, even when your attorney is doing everything they can to speed things up. Ask your attorney for a timeline, but understand that delays often happen in the legal system. Be patient.
Good lawyers are in high demand and they don’t come cheap. If you want top notch services, you’ve got to expect to pay a fair fee.
