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What You Ought To Know About Finding A Lawyer
There are many reasons you may need to hire and work with a lawyer. No matter what the reason, there are some helpful tips you can use during your time with a law professional. The advice that follows will help you when you find yourself in need of a lawyer.
A good tip if you're looking to hire a lawyer is to make sure you pick the right one. Location can be a big factor when looking to hire a lawyer. If you're going to being to court soon, it's absolutely crucial that the lawyer you pick is in the area.
Make sure that you have a decent interaction with any attorney before you invest any money. You may have to spend a good amount of time with your lawyer, so it is important that you choose one that you don't have any issues working with. Take the time to sit down with any potential attorneys and see if you get a good feel for them.
Communicate with your lawyer. A good lawyer should be easy to get in touch with and call you back quickly after you leave a voice-mail. You should not hesitate to call your lawyer to ask for some updates or schedule regular appointments so your lawyer can give you more details on what they have been working on.
You don't just want to choose the first lawyer you find. If you want the best lawyer, you need to do your research. When I bought my first home, the real estate agent referred a lawyer. I accepted the referral, and I was surprised to learn that the lawyer had been sued for malpractice and was no longer licensed. Doing your own research can help you avoid problems in the future.
When looking for a good lawyer, make sure to obtain personal references. Talking to the local community that have experienced issues similar to you. For instance, if you're a victim of sexual harassment, speak with a women's group. Ask them about the lawyers they had and what their experiences were like.
Stay away from lawyers who promise you an easy victory in court. Very few cases are absolutely indisputable and a lawyer who seems overconfident might be lying to you. Do not hesitate to meet with different lawyers to ask for advice before you hire one and do some research on the reputation of these lawyers before you hire one.
If you have been charged with a crime, are in an accident or think you need legal help, you need to hire a lawyer. The amount of time that you wait to make this decision can be a critical factor. You want to have someone on your side that knows the law as quickly as possible.
Use only lawyers you feel are trustworthy. This is particularly important when you need a business or professional lawyer. Signing blank checks or paying a retainer fee is something a lot of lawyers request. You leave yourself in their hands. Protect yourself in all ways.
You should never hire a lawyer from an advertisement that you have seen on television, seen in the phone book or heard on the radio. This is really no indication of how good of lawyer they are. Research the lawyer's legal background and read reviews from their peers to determine if they are right for you.
If a lawyer says your case is simple or easy to win, you should probably find another lawyer. That lawyer has no idea what they're talking about. You have to find a lawyer who knows the ins and outs of the law. Choosing the wrong lawyer could leave you in a worse position then you were to begin with.
If you're engaging in a business legal case, only select a lawyer who knows all about your field of work. If they don't, will they find out about it on their own, unpaid time? If not, look for a lawyer who already has tried cases for businesses like your own.
Remember that you are not the only client of your lawyer. While you may think you should control their time as your case is hugely important and you're paying their salary, think again. The lawyer has to divide their time check here between all of their clients, so give them a break.
Make sure you understand whatever legal issues you are dealing with prior to hiring a lawyer. If you don't really know what is going on, how can you find the best person to help you? Do research to figure out exactly where you stand. This knowledge will give you a better idea of the qualifications and experience you should look for in a lawyer.
You really need to understand what you are paying for when you hire a lawyer. These fees can be complicated. You need to make sure you have all these fees in writing up front and that you understand how they are calculated. If you do not, they are required to explain them to you until you do.
When you are purchasing a home or other property, you should consider hiring an attorney to make sure every detail of the contract is done correctly. The same is true if you are selling a property. The extra expense is well worth knowing there will be no future surprises for you.
Do you want to be able to email your lawyer? Then you must choose someone who knows what email is! Many lawyers are still in the Dark Ages when it comes to technology, so it is important to contact them through the method you'll use once they're hired to ensure it will work.
If a lawyer requires a retainer, make sure you get a written retainer agreement in order to ensure you protect your rights. Do not feel obligated to sign the retainer agreement right there on the spot. Take time to thoroughly read the agreement and ask any questions you have about it.
When choosing a lawyer to represent you, try to find one that is passionate about the law. Many lawyers are so overworked, they just put in their time day in and day out. You need a lawyer who is passionate about what they do and care about justice and the law.
There are many different types of attorneys, and it is important that you find the one who can represent you in court effectively. Personal references are likely more effective than looking in the yellow pages or doing an online search. The tips in this article will help you hire an attorney who will bet represent your case.
Auto insurers play hardball in minor-crash claims
Profitable strategy
The cases, CNN found, illustrate a carefully developed strategy to make the victims look like they are trying to defraud the insurers.
But documents CNN obtained indicate profit, not fraud, is the reason companies decided to play hardball in small accidents.
For Allstate and State Farm, according to documents obtained by CNN, the strategy was developed in the mid-1990s with the assistance of consulting giant McKinsey & Co.
Looking for a way to boost profits, McKinsey focused on soft-tissue injuries incurred in minor crashes.
While the McKinsey documents -- numbered in the thousands -- are under seal in courts around the country, CNN saw several of them during a court hearing in Lexington, Kentucky.
Playing off Allstate's signature slogan, one document recommends the insurer put boxing gloves on its "good hands" for those who insist on going to court.
The strategy, according to former Allstate and State Farm employee Jim Mathis, relies on the three D's -- denying a claim, delaying settlement of the claim and defending against the claim in court.
"The profits are good, and as long as the community, the public allows this to occur, the insurance companies will get richer and people ... will not get a fair and reasonable settlement," Mathis said.
Both Allstate and State Farm declined requests for interviews.
In an e-mail, Allstate wrote it did not believe it would "have any real opportunity of being successful in getting you (CNN) to do a balanced report."
State Farm wrote: "We take customer service seriously and seek to pay what we owe, promptly, courteously and efficiently, and we handle each claim on its own merits."
The company also said, "Any attempt to generalize that State Farm adopted consultant recommendations as other insurers is just plain wrong."
A company spokesman sent an additional e-mail, saying that the company did work with McKinsey to improve claims handling but State Farm stopped using the McKinsey program in 1999.
Robert Hartwig, president of the Insurance Information Institute, told CNN insurers do not have a strategy of blanket denial of claims. He also said strategies to limit expenditures on minor-impact crashes are needed to fight fraud.
Hartwig specifically singled out lawyers who he claims make a living on car accident victims, saying those lawyers are upset because "the gravy train is over."