Ask A Lawyer

9 More Tough Questions to Ask A Lawyer Before You Hire Him

This is the sequel to “8 Tough Questions to Ask a Lawyer before You Hire Him”.  There were so many important things people should know before hiring a lawyer that I split them up into two articles so as not to overwhelm anyone.  So the following are 9 more questions to ask a lawyer before you hire him:  

1. Do you litigate cases?

It is extremely important that the attorney you hire be a litigator.  You need to know that your attorney intends to see your case through to the end for you–regardless of the position that is ultimately taken by the other side.  The insurance companies know the attorneys who litigate, and those who do not.  In large, settlements are higher for the clients of attorneys who are willing to fight for them all the way to the end.

2. Have you attended the Arizona Trial Advocacy College? 

This is an important question.  The Arizona Trial Advocacy College is a program that is taught by the very best trial lawyers in Arizona.  Insist that your attorney has attended. 

3. Will you discuss my case with me over the telephone?

An experienced attorney will make themselves available to you as best as possible.  If you have a question or need to discuss something that should only take a few minutes, then there is no reason why they shouldn’t be able to talk with you over the telephone.  Attorneys often have hectic schedules, so if you need more than just a few minutes make sure to schedule something, whether it be over the phone or in person.  No one can be available at every minute, however, if you call and your attorney is unavailable, make sure they return your call in an acceptable amount of time.

4. Are you a member of the Arizona Association for Justice?

The Arizona Association for Justice is an organization of lawyers whose members represent consumers and are dedicated to preserving and protecting  the rights of all Arizonans.  The Association provides advocacy, continued legal education and public education on behalf of its members and their clients.  If these things are important to you, then you should choose an attorney who is a member.

5. Are you a member of the American Association for Justice?

This is the federal counterpart to the Arizona Association for Justice and is also known as the American Trial Lawyers Association.  “It is the mission of the American Trial Lawyers Association to provide news, information, and education to attorneys who practice or have an interest in trial work, including civil plaintiff and criminal defense law.”  Association membership is extended only to those attorneys who have passed an extensive screening performed by a leading University’s Trial Advocacy Program.    

6. Have you ever defended insurance companies against injury claims?

Know who you are hiring.  Does you attorney have your best interests at heart, or, does he/she rely on income from insurance companies?

7. Will you evaluate my case for me without cost or obligation?

Experienced personal injury attorneys will handle your case on a contingency basis.  Regardless, make sure to discuss all details regarding how the attorney will be paid and how much he/she will be paid.

8. If the insurance company doesn’t offer a fair settlement, are you willing to fight for what is fair?

This is very similar to question #1, many atorneys today do not want to go thru the difficulties of litigation or a trial, however, sometimes cases cannot reach an agreement or a fair settlement without it.  When this occurs you need an attorney who is willing to go the extra mile and fight for your rights.  Find out if your attorney will fight for you, or, when push comes to shove, if he/she will refer the case elsewhere.

9. Are you a Certified Specialist in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death?

The state of Arizona has an extension approval and certification process for experienced personal injury attorneys.  Only those qualified are bestowed the honor of being called Certified Specialists.  Make sure that the attorney you are hiring is a Certified Specialist.  It can make all the difference in the outcome of your case.

I hope these questions help you to find the right lawyer for you should the need ever arise.     

DadsDivorce.com: Ask A Lawyer

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Find Criminal Lawyer

Where can I find a criminal lawyer in Illinois ?

I been looking for a criminal appeal lawyer in Southern Illinois that deal with or knows about men’s rights and constitution right?

Look up the yellow pages under attorneys. I am sure you will find lots of them. Whom did you kill;)

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Find Criminal Lawyers

Do criminal lawyers get to pick which cases they represent?

I don’t know for how long, I’ve considered going to college to become a criminal lawyer. But I was talking to my friend the other day and she too had thought about it. But she said that she changed her mind because even if you don’t believe the person is guilty or innocent, you HAVE to represent them. Truly I don’t want to be put in that situation if that is the case. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could help me out, thanks .

Most law school graduates aspiring to practice criminal law do so initially in either a District Attorney’s office (county prosecutor) or a public interest criminal defense organization such as the county public defender’s office or Legal Aid Society. This is because most firms specializing in criminal law do not hire on a regular basis and many do not hire inexperienced attorneys.

If you work in a District Attorney’s office you wont have to worry about defending anyone since your role will be that of the prosecutor. If you work as a public defender, or a Legal Aid Society criminal defense lawyer, you are not going to have much discretion in the cases you take. They are assigned to you and while occasionally you may be able to get a case reassigned if it is particularly offensive to you for personal reasons that you believe would impede your ability to provide the defendant with zealous defense, for the most part you have to take your cases as you receive them. If you work for private practice at a law firm, your cases are also going to be assigned to you by a partner, and you are not going to have enough discretion in accepting assignments to ensure that you wont have to represent a guilty client.

Even if you decide to become a solo practitioner, there is no guarantee that you wont have to represent a guilty client. In criminal defense law clients constantly lie to their attorneys, sometimes even when they are innocent which makes it difficult for the attorney to ascertain their actual guilt which means that sometimes you may be representing a client that you think is guilty who is actually innocent and other times you may be representing a client who you think is innocent but is actually guilty.

Additionally, if criminal defense is part of your practice as a soloist, the courts may occasionally assign you represent a defendant pro bono and you generally don’t have a right to decline the assignment.

In general, if you have a problem with representing clients that may be guilty of the crimes with which they are charged, it is probably not a good idea to be a criminal defense lawyer. Very few defendants that go into the criminal court system are completely innocent and it is highly unlikely that you will be able to make a living specializing in criminal defense law by representing only those potential clients who you believe are innocent.

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Is A Dui

Whats the difference between DUI and Wet reckless?

I got a DUI a week ago, and would like to know the difference between a DUI and all the after affects of getting one and a wet reckless after affects. (probation, suspended license, record, jail time).
I am in california.

Totally depends on the state! Each state has different DUI and alcohol-related charges and the consequences for each are different depending on that state’s procedures. What state are you in?

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Find Dui Attorney

i got a DUI charge and a speeding ticket for 75m on the 35m area but i have a clean record. Do i need attorney?

i am ready to accept my mistake and being guilty! i really dont know what to do as i have never gone throught this situation before.
I have already registered for a First offenders program too.. do i have to serve jail time?

In the USA, for a DUI charge I would hire a lawyer especially when penalites can be quite severe and expensive. At least with your own attorney, you’ve hired some to represent you and he has your best interest at heart (as long as you pay him… lol).

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