If you are considering action in the courts, your first important choice is likely which counsel is correct for you. How do you find a good lawyer?
speak with friends and family. Chances are good that someone you know has used a barrister or knows someone who has. Ask pals and family who they used and about their experience. Were they satisfied with the service they were provided? Ask for specifics about why they did – or did not- feel their barrister provided good service. Learn if the lawyer returned telephone calls or e-mails in a hurry, whether the case was pursued and completed in a fair time, whether the lawyer listened to requests and concerns, whether the individual was kept informed about the status of his or her case, whether charges charged were fair and bills detailed enough to understand what legal work was finished on the case.
Referral Services. There are a number of referral services in Texas. The State Bar of Texas provides a list of referral services around the state. Referral services need lawyers to register and usually need lawyer members to carry malpractice insurance. In the Austin and central Texas area, contact the barrister Referral Service of Central Texas. Referral services regularly also set a restriction on the fee charged for a preliminary consultation. The counsel Referral Service of Central Texas needs its member barristers to provide a thirty minute consultation for $20.
Courthouse. Go watch barristers in action. In family law matters, divorce, child visitation, juvenile support, etc, you will find hearings going on at the Travis County Civil Courthouse on Monday, wednesday, Thursday and friday. Except in rare circumstances, court proceedings are open to the general public. Locate a hearing to observe by asking at the data desk or check the directory of courtrooms and analyze until you find a hearing to look at. You will enter and leave a courtroom while proceedings are ongoing, but recall to be respectful and quiet. Turn off cell phones and pagers and do not bring food or drinks into the courtroom. It also advisable to not bring your youngsters. Some of the difficulties in these cases won’t be applicable for youngsters, who likely should be in class in any case, and youngsters may have a difficult time sitting still and quiet during proceedings.
when you find a hearing to watch, what do you look for? Real life legal proceedings are nearly never as exciting and suspenseful as they are television, but you will be able to gather important information about a barrister by watching her or him in court. Is the counsel conducting him or herself in a professional manner? Remember that your counsel will be an extension of you – representing you and your interests. I submit a professional, courteous and enthusiastic promoter is more effective than one who is rude and incompetent. Is the lawyer prepared? Each barrister has another way to conduct hearings, but notice whether she appears to have documents arranged, asks good questions and seems to have a plan. Look at the lawyer’s style to see if it persuasive to you and compatible with your personality and needs. Watch long enough to get a sense about the barristers and move to another hearing. If you find a barrister you would like to speak with, ask for his or her contact information in a break or put down the name and call later on.
Ask about legal fees – does the lawyer charge by the hour or provide services for a flat fee? Do you need to offer an up-front retainer or deposit. If so , how much? What happens to that butler or deposit at the end of the case? Will it be returned to you? How often will you be billed? What sorts of costs will you be charged for? Does the lawyer accept credit cards or offer a payment plan? What will happen if you get behind on your bill?
Ask about barrister accessibility and communications – does the counsel have a policy about the period it takes to return calls or respond to emails? Does the lawyer use e-mail in his or her practice at all? Will you be in a position to reach the lawyer through cell phone? How will the lawyer keep you informed about the status of your case? I give my client’s my cell phone number for use during business hours and make every effort to return calls or reply to emails same day, or the next day. Often that suggests I call clients at 7pm or respond to amail at 10pm but I have never had a customer sad to be contacted after hours. You will find that many Seattle lawyers call clients after hours, as do Denver lawyers and Charlotte lawyers.