Contingency Fees

Many people are under the assumption that hiring a lawyer is very expensive and ultimately not worth the trouble. However, during your consultation with the lawyer, depending on the type of case, you may find that he/she works on a contingency basis. This means that the payment is contingent on the outcome and the lawyer will not accept any legal fees unless your case is won.

Contingency fees are common when clients are being compensated for their pains such as personal injury or workers compensation. If you are facing financial strains with your legal situation with medical bills or lost wages, having a lawyer who works on a contingency fee basis may alleviate some of the stress.

Because contingency-based cases put lawyers at a high-risk, they tend to be more selective about which cases they choose to represent. So, you need to make sure you are prepared during the initial meeting regarding your claim so the lawyer can evaluate your circumstances.

Not all lawyers work on a contingency basis. For instance, civil lawyers and family lawyers tend to work on an hourly basis.

When finding an attorney through the Riverside Lawyer Referral Service, we can help match you with the right lawyer for your situation.

Not in Riverside? There are alternative Lawyer Referral Services at the Bar Association of San Francisco, the Brooklyn Bar Association, and the Chicago Bar Association.

The materials in this blog are for informational purposes only, and are not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or current, and should not be relied on as legal advice. You should consult with a lawyer if you need help with a legal matter and not rely on anything you read on this blog or elsewhere on the web.

How do emotions have an effect when deciding whether or not to get an attorney?

It’s unlikely that someone would consider a legal matter as a joyous occasion. The process itself can be expensive, time-consuming, and emotionally draining. For many, deciding whether or not a lawyer is needed for the case can prove to be its own feat as there are pros and cons in a lawyer representing your case and you representing yourself.

One thing to consider is your emotional involvement in the case. Probably one of the most counterproductive things you can do during a legal dispute is to have your emotions overshadow your good sense. This may be even more problematic when personal relationships are involved in the matter such as a divorce, business dispute with family or a loved one, or estate matters. When being highly emotional about a case, people may make rash decisions, making the outcome even worse.

Having the right lawyer brings a necessary cerebral component to the legal situation and can help maintain a level of professionalism and objectiveness when evaluating the circumstances. In the end, this will benefit all of the involved parties.

If you have more questions regarding whether or not you should hire an attorney, contact the Riverside Lawyer Referral Services for more information.

In case you do not live in Riverside County and still would like Lawyer Referral Services, consider contacting the Bar Association of San Francisco, Brooklyn Bar Association, or Chicago Bar Association.

The materials in this blog are for informational purposes only, and are not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or current, and should not be relied on as legal advice. You should consult with a lawyer if you need help with a legal matter and not rely on anything you read on this blog or elsewhere on the web.

Gauging the complexity of the issue

There are instances when a lawyer may or may not be necessary for a dispute and it’s really up to you to decide if hiring a lawyer is the best option for your legal matter.

For example, a person may be getting sued and is served with copious amount of paperwork. The documents themselves are confusing and the person who is served is unsure about the appropriate steps. Hiring a lawyer may prove to be useful in this case because he/she can carefully go over the documents and provide sound legal counsel and representation.

Alternatively, if you have a firm understanding of the legal process and its implications, hiring a lawyer may not be entirely necessary. For instance, when filing for the divorce, the couple may not have any children, substantial assets, or other pressure issues. In this case, a lawyer may not be necessary and the couple and go through the process by themselves.

Ultimately, it’s up to your judgment regarding your comfort level with the legal process. In any case, having a consultation with a lawyer about your situation may prove to be a useful asset as there may be unforeseeable and complex issues that you may not have considered in the case.

Have the Riverside Lawyer Referral Service refer you to an experienced lawyer to evaluate your situation.

For alternative bar associations, consider one of the following:

• The Bar Association of San Francisco
• Brooklyn Bar Association
• Chicago Bar Association

The materials in this blog are for informational purposes only, and are not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or current, and should not be relied on as legal advice. You should consult with a lawyer if you need help with a legal matter and not rely on anything you read on this blog or elsewhere on the web.

Dress to impress: how your clothing affects your meeting with an attorney

For many of us, thinking about what to wear to a consultation with a lawyer would be the last thing on a person’s mind, but, in actuality, wearing the right clothes can make a difference during the meeting.

Because this is a business consultation, you should be well dressed and professional. Just as the lawyer wants you to take him or her seriously, you need to be taken seriously as well. Having both parties dress professionally may help set the tone for the relationship.

Dressing professionally may also give you that needed boost before meeting the lawyer. Having a consultation with a lawyer can be a daunting task, especially if it is your first time meeting with a legal professional. Wearing the right clothes may help you feel more in charge and confident.

If you have more questions about how to prepare for a consultation with a lawyer, contact the Riverside Lawyer Referral Services. We want to help.

If your matter is not in Riverside County, consider one of these alternative Lawyer Referral Services: 

• Brooklyn Bar Association 
• The Bar Association of San Francisco
• Chicago Bar Association

The materials in this blog are for informational purposes only, and are not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or current, and should not be relied on as legal advice. You should consult with a lawyer if you need help with a legal matter and not rely on anything you read on this blog or elsewhere on the web.

Is your lawyer familiar with handling cases like yours?

When you have a consultation with a lawyer, there are many things to consider in determining if you are meeting with the right lawyer for your case. One thing to consider is whether or not the lawyer has current experience in legal claims that are similar to yours.

For instance, you may have a consultation with a personal injury lawyer because you want to discuss a medical malpractice case. However, just because the attorney works in personal injury law, it does not automatically mean that he or she is well-versed in medical malpractice cases. The lawyer may focus more on automobile accidents instead. Or, even if the lawyer has knowledge and experience in medical malpractice cases, his or her focus may be in a different area, like birth injuries, but you may need a lawyer for a surgical mistake.

It’s important to hire a lawyer who has experience pertaining to your specific legal needs so that you can receive the best representation possible. He or she will know the right types of evidence to collect and how to work with the appropriate professionals to build the best case for your claim.

Use the Riverside County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Services to match you with an experienced lawyer for your specific legal needs. If you have questions regarding meeting with an attorney, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If you are not in Riverside County, there are other bar associations that offer Lawyer Referral Services such as the Bar Association of San Francisco, Chicago Bar Association, and Brooklyn Bar Association.

The materials in this blog are for informational purposes only, and are not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or current, and should not be relied on as legal advice. You should consult with a lawyer if you need help with a legal matter and not rely on anything you read on this blog or elsewhere on the web.

Why should you search for a lawyer through the Riverside County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service?

Looking for a lawyer can be a daunting task; therefore, having the assistance from a Lawyer Referral Service like the one at the Riverside County Bar Association will prove to be very useful. In having connections to lawyers in various aspects of law, our helpful staff will assist you in finding the right lawyer for your case.

In order for a lawyer to be a part of our Lawyer Referral Service, he or she needs to undergo an extensive screening process. The lawyers must be highly-qualified and maintain current experience in their respective legal fields. We also regularly check their client satisfaction to ensure that they are continuing to provide excellent services. 

Knowing that each of the lawyers in our panel is pre-screened helps take out a lot of the guesswork when selecting the right lawyer. If you have any questions regarding our Lawyer Referral Services, do not hesitate to contact us. 

You can also follow the Riverside County Bar Association on Twitter to get updates regarding legal and lawyer referral service information.

Not in Riverside? Then try the Bar Association of San Francisco Lawyer Referral Service, Brooklyn Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service, or the Chicago Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service. 

The materials in this blog are for informational purposes only, and are not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or current, and should not be relied on as legal advice. You should consult with a lawyer if you need help with a legal matter and not rely on anything you read on this blog or elsewhere on the web.

Limited Representation

When deciding whether or not to hire a lawyer, know that you do not need to hire a lawyer for the entire duration of the case. In some cases, you may find that hiring a lawyer for limited representation may be your best option.

Limited representation may consist of meeting with the lawyer for a couple or few hours to discuss your case, receive legal advice regarding necessary steps, and/or provide a prediction of your case's outcome. Or, you can have a lawyer go over legal documents with you to help ensure that you are filling them out properly and to provide advice for any of your questions or concerns regarding the documents.

By going through the limited representation route, you are in more control about what you want to spend on a lawyer and can receive the services that pertain to your specific needs.

If you would like to know more about limited representation and obtaining a lawyer, contact the Riverside County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service. For updates regarding legal news, follow us on twitter.

If your matter is not in Riverside, try these alternatives:

•          The Bar Association of San Francisco Lawyer Referral Service
•          Brooklyn Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service
•          Chicago Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service

The materials in this blog are for informational purposes only, and are not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or current, and should not be relied on as legal advice. You should consult with a lawyer if you need help with a legal matter and not rely on anything you read on this blog or elsewhere on the web.