TrustDale – Finding and Hiring an Attorney

Here at TrustDale, you can find a broad list of attorneys we know – we observed professionally and/or have deemed to be extraordinary in their relationships with clients and their practice of the law. If you want to find an attorney for yourself, here are my suggestions:

1. Ask family, co-workers and friends for referrals of good experiences.

2. Review “on-line” resources such as

http://www.gabar.org/

It’s the link to the website for the Georgia State Bar. Put simply, the bar sets the bar for attorney conduct and professionalism. With few exceptions, attorneys who wish to practice law in Georgia are required to be members of this organization. A quick read shows you what you should expect when you hire an attorney. Additionally, the web site tells you if the attorney you’re considering has any disciplinary history, why that lawyer was disciplined, and whether he or she is in good standing with the bar.

(The site also contains definitions of terminology, so you can feel more confident when you talk with an attorney.)
Click here to download the Georgia Bar’s detailed suggestions on finding and hiring an attorney:

http://www.gabar.org/public/pdf/cps/chooselawyer_09.pdf

You can also consult the Martindale-Hubble peer review ratings at www.martindale.com

This web site allows you to search for attorneys by name, location and area of practice. It also allows you to view how the attorney is viewed by his fellow attorneys, or peers.

When you have the name of an attorney who has expertise in the area you need help, it’s time to schedule a consultation; but first, ask the attorney if there is a charge for the consultation.
I strongly recommend the attorney provide a free consultation.
Describe your situation honestly and completely.
Ask the attorney if he/she has expertise in the area you’re concerned with. Ask for examples.

Ask: How much will this cost?

You should be familiar with these terms:
Retainer fee: Advance payment to the lawyer for a portion of his or her fee.
Hourly fee: The lawyer’s hourly rate multiplied by the number of hours (or portion of hours) spent on your case.
Fixed fee: A specific amount of money for a specific service.
Contingency fee: In some types of cases attorneys are willing to handle matters on a “contingency basis”. In such a case you do not pay legal fees unless and until you win, and then the lawyer receives a percentage of your recovery as his or her fee. If you lose your case, there would be no legal fee at all for the lawyer.

Cost Advance: Periodic advance payment to the lawyer for on-going expenses associated with litigation.
Mixed Fee: Combination of contingency and hourly fees.
Before agreeing with an attorney to represent you, ask for a description of the fees in writing.

You should also ask:
How long will it take?
What can I expect?
If things don’t work out, what recourse do I have?