The legal system has always seemed intimidating and confusing to many of us. You need legal representation if you become a victim due to a personal injury incident. Some examples include: wrongful death, child injuries, construction accidents, drunken driving accidents, nursing home abuse, fraudulent business, industrial accidents, birth injuries, product liability, mesothelioma, traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, product defects, malpractice suits, auto and truck defects, and transportation-related accidents.
Experience – which type of law does this person specialize in and how many years of have they been working in their field? Do they refer or receive referrals from other attorneys? How large is their staff?
Track record – has there been any high-profile, public cases? What is the percentage of successful ‘wins’ and over what period of time?
Accessible – is he or she available or responsive by phone, email, text, or other form of communications and how timely are they? How do they protect your personal information and provide confidentiality?
Reputation – review any and all public news articles, periodicals, and articles concerning this attorney and any recent high profile cases. Outside of their professional lives, what does this person do regarding their community and local causes, if any? Does this attorney have any personal demons and issues with their own conduct and the law?
Personality – if you meet with this person, do you both have professional chemistry? Is he or she a good listener and are they genuinely interested in you being properly represented? In Connecticut, if you are unsure where to start or need consultation, visit www. A1ConflictResolver.com.
Social media presence – does this person maintain a social presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, Kik, Pinterest, or similar, and if so, does their content abide by protecting of personal information?
Staff – take notice when you visit or call the office as to whether or not the attorney’s staff is professional, friendly, and responsive to your questions. How soon do they return your calls or emails and do they provide you with valuable information or do they defer their assistance?
Fees and Cost – determine how the attorney charges their time and effort. Does he or she charge an hourly rate, a flat fee, a contingency fee, or offer a retainer? The most common is the retainer – requires an initial fee then they will bill against an account and you must ensure that you have adequate funds in the account just like a prepaid credit card.
Professional associations and credentials – verify that this person is or is not listed on The Best Lawyers in America website, The Martindale-Hubbell Bar Registry, or is a board-certified civil trial lawyer by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Trust but verify – do your homework regarding any complaints that are listed with the states attorney general or bar association. Try to get references if possible and contact them. You should do diligence and verify any public record data found by searching the Internet.