Hiring the right lawyer can be one of the most important decisions you make. Whether you are seeking counsel for a family law matter, such as a divorce or custody battle, for a personal injury case, or for a business dispute, it is important to know that you have the right lawyer by your side.
Research
The first step in finding the right lawyer is research. With the power of Google and other search engines, there is a wealth of information available to you about your new lawyer. One of the first places to start is with the lawyer’s website. The lawyer’s website will provide you information about the lawyer, their practice areas, and their office. In reviewing this information, you should be able to readily determine if a particular firm handles the type of case you have.
After feeling confident that the firm can handle the type of case you have, it is important to read the reviews for the firm. The reviews you see online for an attorney, according to State Bar of Texas ethical rules, are honest reviews, as lawyers cannot exchange anything of value for a positive review. While no firm will have 100% positive reviews, it is important to get a feel for the good (and the bad) of a firm, and those online reviews is a good place to start.
Interview
Once you have a good feel for what firms are available to assist you, set up consultations at each. Most firms will offer a free initial consultation with an attorney to discuss your case in broad-strokes. While you may feel compelled to act quickly in hiring a lawyer, if your situation allows, interview multiple firms. Request information regarding their retainers, hourly rates, and experience in handling issues such as yours. Again, the more information you are able to gather, the better.
When interviewing lawyers, make sure you are having a conversation about your case, and you are not just getting lectured to or being “sold” on the firm. The most important person in that room is you, and your lawyer should be engaging in active listening, and not just waiting for you to finish talking so you can sign a contract.
Think
Equipped with the information obtained during your interview of potential lawyers and online research, it’s now time to process the information you have gathered. There is a tendency to go with the firm offering the lowest retainer or hourly rates—this could be a mistake. Litigation is a long and often emotional process. The attorney-client relationship is just that, a relationship. As such, the person you ultimately hire to represent you should be somebody you like and trust. Your lawyer is going to guide you through a very difficult process, and the only way to effectively do that is to have somebody you trust by your side.
Why the Ted Smith Law Group?
There are a lot of lawyers in Killeen, Harker Heights, Temple, Copperas Cove, and other areas of Bell and Coryell County. So, the question remains, why the Ted Smith Law Group? In a word: quality. Our philosophy is to maintain a low-volume, high-quality practice. What this means for you is that we are able to devote sufficient time and resources to your case, and we are available to you. For example, if you want to speak with the lawyer handling your case, you will be able to do so. You are not going to be relegated to only speaking to the legal assistant or paralegal, nor are you going to be required to go through a confusing and impersonal phone tree. Our lawyers and staff are detail-oriented, experienced, and understand what it takes to get a client’s matter resolved.
After considering your options, we would be honored to provide you with a free consultation to discuss your case. To set-up your consultation, you can contact our office through our website or by calling 254-690-5688.
With strength and integrity, we stand ready to help you.
