Friday, April 11, 2014

A Guide To Hiring A Lawyer In Oxford MS

A Guide To Hiring A Lawyer In Oxford MS

By Anita Ortega


Hiring an attorney to represent your interests is essential especially if you are hurt in an accident, going through a divorce, writing a will, starting a business or buying a property among other legal issues. Most Oxford MS attorneys specialize in a particular area of the law. You should therefore hire a professional who has relevant experience. Most attorneys will charge you nothing during the first consultation. You can use this opportunity to find out if an attorney is honest and forthcoming.

As you speak with an attorney, you should ask about the people he or she has represented in the past. It is also important to find out about the chances of your case succeeding or failing. A trustworthy lawyer will give you detailed information about the risks of filing your case and the chances of getting a positive outcome.

As you speak with an attorney, seek to determine if he or she is attentive to detail. Make sure that you ask the legal professional if you can call him or her any time as your case is going on in order to discuss the concerns you may have. You should also ask if the professional will provide you with periodic updates about the status of your case by phone or in writing.

Another thing you need to know is if the attorney will be responsible for taking your calls or if you will communicate through a paralegal. Another thing to consider is service fees. Trustworthy attorneys charge reasonable fees as required by state ethics laws. The American Bar Association counsels attorneys to inform their clients about their fee structure a short time after they start representing them.

Your attorney may charge you extra for courier services, photocopying documents, research services or court filing fees. Make sure that you understand what the professional will charge you for. Remember that the most expensive legal professional is not necessarily the best. Similarly, a bargain rate is not always a good deal. Look for an attorney who offers the best balance between cost and experience.

You may save some money if you ask your attorney to allow a paralegal to perform some tasks. You can also ask the professional to allow you to perform the tasks that you are capable of performing. If you are dealing with a straightforward issue such as filing an uncontested divorce, a bankruptcy or drafting a will, the professional may ask for flat fees.

An attorney can also charge hourly fees with the final cost being determined by the total number of hours taken to solve your case. If you opt for such a payment arrangement, make sure that you get a rough estimate about how many hours it will take to solve your case so that you can get an idea about the extra fees you will pay. This professional may also request you to pay him or her a retainer.

You may also hire an attorney who offers his or her services based on a contingency fee. Your goal should be to hire a professional who is capable of offering personalized and prompt attention. After you agree to hire an attorney, ensure that you honor the agreements you made.




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