No one wants to find themselves in need of a legal proceeding—but sometimes life requires it. Sometimes you’re facing charges or wondering if you should be pressing charges. Sometimes you are filing a claim that is a little unique and so will likely be going to court. It can be confusing and daunting and leave you feeling unsure of your situation and legal needs. Maybe everyone has told you to speak to an attorney, but you don’t know if you need to or if you can afford to.
If any of the above applies to you, take a deep breath, the following will explain how you can easily book a free consultation with an attorney. During your free consultation, you’ll be able to ask all the questions you have, and the attorney will be able to give you their initial impression of your situation.
Look In Your Region
Foremost, you’re going to want to find a few attorneys to contact. Every state has slightly different laws and legal precedents, which means your particular situation is not going to be handled the same way across the country. Even if the laws are the same, the procedures for applying them might be different. Seek out attorneys either online or in an old-fashioned phone book in the state that your legal proceeding will take place in.
Look For An Attorney That Specializes In The Type Of Law You’re Dealing With
Even lawyers hire other lawyers. Why? Because each branch of law requires years of study and practice to fully understand. If you have a personal injury case, you shouldn’t be consulting with a divorce lawyer. If there’s been a breach of your workplace safety contract, you shouldn’t be consulting with an attorney that specializes in medical malpractice. Even though all these positions are covered by the term lawyer or attorney, they’re not the same job at all.
Ask About A Free Consultation
Once you’ve found someone you think will be a good fit, call up and ask for a free consultation. Many attorneys offer this option upfront on their websites, for example, terry-lawfirm.com. But even if an attorney doesn’t advertise free consultations, many are willing to give them. A consultation is often offered for free because it helps both parties out equally. It can help the lawyer explain to you the process that you’re facing, and it gives you time to explain your situation. After the consultation, everyone should have all the information they need to decide whether moving forward with the case together is a wise decision.
Consult A Few Attorneys
There’s nothing wrong with following through the above process several times to find a few options. When consulting with an attorney, make sure that they can explain everything to you in a way that you understand. The law is written in archaic legal jargon that takes years of study (and sometimes even a background in Latin) to understand. This is the most important quality to look for as you’ll be struggling to keep up if you can’t understand everything that is happening while it is happening.
Do All Of This Relatively Quickly
The above process should be done sooner rather than later. This is because, in many types of law, there are restrictions regarding how long after an event, you are allowed to bring an issue to the legal system. Each state, of course, has different rules regarding this, but it is usually better to give whichever attorney you decide to go with as much time as possible to prepare before deadlines become an issue. In addition to these reasons for beginning the process early, the coronavirus pandemic has put a massive strain on the legal system as of late, meaning there might be longer than usual wait times for court dates and other processes. You can expect longer than usual delays, and there’s no information as of yet when this is going to change as there is a lot of catching up to do for all industries after the period of intense lockdown.
The above information should help you set up one or more free consultations with a legal professional who is experienced and equipped to handle your situation. Of course, as with any online legal advice, it is always best to discuss your particular circumstances with an attorney to understand how this information applies to you. If, at any point, something feels wrong to you, it is always wise to reach out to someone else for a second opinion.
