A Quick Checklist for Locating the Right Attorney Dec 14, 2015
Quick Checklist for Locating the Right Attorney
1. Seek referrals from trusted family members, friends, co-workers or from an attorney you know and respect
2. Read online reviews for red flags
3. Speak with him or her on the telephone
4. Ultimately, you will want to meet with him or her—for a face-to-face interview
Sample Interview Questions:
- Have you ever handled a matter similar to mine?
- How long have you dealt with matters in this area of the law?
- What are my alternatives in resolving this matter?
- What are the possible outcomes of a case like this?
- Do you feel our approach should be aggressive or unyielding, or should we be seeking a settlement right away? What about some form of mediation?
- Approximately how long should this matter take to resolve?
- How will you keep me informed about what is happening in my case?
- How do you bill for handling a matter such as this? Hourly rates?
- Who in your office will be working on my case? Their rates?
- Can you give me a ballpark figure for your handling this entire matter?
Goal: Do you think you will be comfortable dealing with this attorney, can he/she handle your legal matter, and are his/her rates reasonable for your budget?
(Mallon Lonnquist Morris & Watrous, PLLC, is a business, real estate, finance, and litigation law firm. Craig T. Watrous is a Colorado business attorney with Mallon Lonnquist Morris & Watrous, PLLC, based in Denver, Colorado. Craig regularly represents businesses and individuals. Craig can be reached at cwatrous@mlmw-law.com and 303-777-1411)