Do you need to find a car accident lawyer or personal injury attorney or trial lawyer that specializes in personal injury law to handle your accident injury claim? Or maybe you need help with a divorce, child custody, wills and estate planning, business law, taxes, or bankruptcy? There are certainly many types of lawyers and law offices that can help you with legal information, but finding top law firms to handle your case can be a challenge. First of all, it is very important that you find a lawyer who has experience with the issues that you are facing. Always ask if the attorney specializes in cases like yours. You'll also want to know how long the attorney has been in practice, how many cases like yours the lawyer has handled, and how successful the attorney was in those cases. Also find out if any previous clients have ever made any complaints about the lawyer. And don't forget to check if the lawyer is a member of the local Bar Association since this is usually a sign that the attorney is respected by his fellow legal professionals. Secondly you'll need to ask out about how the attorney will bill you for legal services. It is important to do this during your first meeting so that you have a realistic idea of what costs will be involved in your case. You should also keep in mind that sometimes you can get an initial consultation with an attorney for free to discuss your case. However, this is not always true, so be sure that you verify this before agreeing to talk with the attorney so you don't find yourself facing an unexpected expense. If an attorney decides to accept you as a client, the attorney will probably ask for a deposit, called a "retainer", before they will agree to represent you. The retainer will be used to pay for the initial legal fees in your case. When it comes to charging for services, some attorneys charge hourly rates, while others work for a flat fee. Usually, however, flat fees are only available for routine legal matters like drawing up a basic will or handling an uncontested divorce. Another payment option in some cases may be a contingency fee which means that the attorney gets paid a percentage of any awards that they may obtain for you. And sometimes a lawyer may combine these various options at different stages of the case. When you first discuss your case with an attorney, always ask about exactly how you will be charged for the attorney's services (hourly fee, flat fee, contingency fee, or combination), what charges are included in the fee, and what other charges you might have to pay besides that. Typical other costs besides the attorney's time include copying fees, court filing fees, transcription costs, long distance phone calls, fees paid to witnesses, fees for legal documents to be filed, and maybe even travel fees for the attorney or his staff. Before hiring an attorney, it is very important that you understand exactly how you are being billed, and what you are being billed for, and check any statements and invoices that you receive to be sure that they are accurate. Choosing the right attorney can be a confusing and difficult process, but if you take the time to find an experienced lawyer and make sure you understand all the legal fees involved, you're well on your way to a successful resolution of your legal issues.
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