How To Conduct An Interview With a Lawyer

Have you every thought about what you might ask a lawyer to determine whether they are the right choice for you?  It’s an important consideration since choosing the right attorney might have a significant impact on the rest of your life.

Step one of course is to narrow the field to a handful.  This would be accomplished by talking to friends, neighbors, associates, the bar association, online searches, etc.  The objective here is not to choose a particular attorney, but to narrow your choices to a few.  Obviously you’ll want to choose an attorney who has experience in the area where you have a need; it wouldn’t do much good to hire a real estate attorney for a divorce case, or a criminal defense attorney for contract law.  Let your initial search provide you with a handful of choices that come recommended by whatever means you have chosen.

That done, it’s time for an initial phone consultation and if that goes well, will lead to a face to face meeting.  You’ll want to ask questions and get an initial feel for the personality, experience and overall knowledge of lawyer.  The answers you get here will help you narrow your choices even further, eliminating the ones that don’t have the experience or fit your particular needs.

In this phone consultation you’ll want to find out if they offer an initial free consultation.  If yes, great, if not, then how much is that interview going to cost you?  How long will the consultation last?  What type of information will they provide?

Find out exactly what type of fees you’ll be incurring, are they negotiable, or will they expect to be paid in full when the invoice is issued.

While your initial search should have narrowed the field, ask more detailed questions to find out if the attorney has the requite experience and specialties you are looking for.

Has our lawyer been in practice for an extended period, or are they fresh from the bar exam?  While a new lawyer might have the necessary zeal, experience has proven to be the best teacher.

Are they part of any organizations or associations in their field?  Have they served on the board or as an officer at any of these organizations?  While you might not want to ask this question personally, find out from the bar association if the lawyer has a good and clean reputation.

Can references be provided?

If it is determined that this is not the right lawyer, would they be willing to give you a referral to another attorney?

Find out the details of what they would like you to bring to the initial consultation.  Documents, computer files, evidence, or is this simply an initial conversation to cover the broad strokes.

Ask for his/her general thoughts about the possible outcomes of your case; how long will the proceedings last, what are the possible costs involved.

Will there be paralegals and/or law clerks involved, or will the attorney perform all of the preparations.

How busy is the lawyer, firm, associates?  Do they have the time necessary to devote to your cause?

The more informed you are, the better prepared you will be not only for an initial consultation, but also for the eventual outcome of your proceedings.  Take the time to do your research, ask the right questions and make an informed decision.