Our site will help you find the right lawyer, that is to say the one that suits you best in terms of competence, availability, price practiced, mode of operation in general.
The one who will be the right lawyer for you will not be the same as another person in a different situation or situation, but with different search criteria personal injury lawyer rockford il.
The following short guide is intended to explain how this liberal professional lawyer works so you can make an informed choice.
1. How to ensure the skills of a lawyer?
All lawyers have, in terms of the degree, at least a master’s degree in law (now called Master I). However, most also have AEDs or DESS (now called Master II) that allow to know what is their initial training.
Nevertheless, this initial training does not always correspond to their professional activity.
The profession recognizes specialization titles that you will find in the search criteria.
These specializations, fifteen in number, can only be claimed by lawyers with at least four years of experience and having passed a professional examination before the Bar.
It is therefore a guarantee of quality.
Nevertheless, since the system of awarding specializations is rather outdated and does not cover all legal specializations, a large number of lawyers give up their specialization exams (the reform of which has been announced for a long time) and are content with display a privileged area of expertise.
These privileged areas of expertise appear in our simple search.
The lawyers who registered on this site and who fulfilled the criteria undertook on their honor to master perfectly the subjects in which they referenced.
Finally, some subjects require hyper-specialization that only experience and daily practice can give.
This is why we have implemented sub-criteria, sometimes very sharp, to help you find the right lawyer.
Again, our site guarantees that the lawyer referenced in this matter is committed to knowing it perfectly.
2. Should a lawyer be close geographically?
It all depends on the service you will give him.
In the context of a litigation of small importance, geographical proximity is a major asset: the lawyer will be easy to meet and his travel expenses will not unnecessarily enlarge the file.
On the other hand, when it comes to litigation with significant financial stakes and / or legal advice, geographical proximity matters much less.
Indeed, in the case of litigation, and if the matter is significant, the costs and travel time will have little impact on the lawyer’s fees.
In these conditions, both take a lawyer who is perfect for your needs even if it is far.
Admittedly, meeting him will be less easy, but phone appointments or email exchanges can do the trick.
With regard to requests for consultation or legal advice, distance matters even less. As much to take a lawyer who understands perfectly your problem even if it is remote, the geographical distance having in this case of figure any importance.
3. How much does I expect from my lawyer?
Not all clients have the same need for availability and not all lawyers are ready to provide the same availability.
Indeed, some customers tend to call their lawyers very frequently to “take news”, others are content with a simple email, information for the lawyer to inform them when an event occurs. is produced in the folder.
And conversely, according to their schedules and their characters, not all lawyers are ready for the same availability.
So make sure, when you entrust your file, that the degree of availability you expect is compatible with how your lawyer works.
Beware, a request for too much attention will unnecessarily inflate the fees of the file (answer the phone is time spent), while it might have been enough to trust your lawyer to inform you every time major step of the file
4. What is the relationship with his lawyer?
It is essential to have a healthy and pleasant relationship with your lawyer.
To be well defended, it is necessary to be able to explain all the ins and outs of your case to your lawyer. As a result, it is imperative to be comfortable with it.
If taking a lawyer you know, or has been recommended to you, can be a good solution, this knowledge should not prevent you from exposing the entire situation serenely.
In such a case, it is better to choose a lawyer that you do not know, but who is competent, and to whom you can expose all your disputes.
Finally, in the case of a human relationship, the “current” must pass between your lawyer and you. You must have a good feeling.
Choosing a lawyer about the same age as you can be such a good solution.
On the other hand, if you are young and need to be reassured, an experienced lawyer may be profitable.
4. How are the fees calculated?
The lawyer’s fees are totally free. They can range from 1 to 10 and not be a reflection of their skills in the field you are looking for. As such, a media lawyer will make you pay his notoriety, not necessarily his competence.
Most lawyers post an hourly rate that they apply then vary according to the type of dispute, the reputation of the firm, the complexity of the case.
The lawyers’ ethical rules even provide that it is possible to vary the fees according to the objective financial situation of the client.
The hourly rate varies among lawyers between 80 and 800 €, the price “normal” is actually between 150 and 250 €.
Hourly pricing has the advantage of being transparent (provided that you can ask the lawyer to justify the number of hours spent on your file) but may make it difficult to estimate the dispute.
Indeed, a conflictual divorce can last as long as one year or two years and the fees to be incurred will also depend on the reaction of the adversary and his ability to multiply procedures or procedural incidents.
It is also possible to provide a fixed fee, which avoids unpleasant surprises.
This is a solution that must be negotiated in advance with the lawyer, when you give him your file.
It is imperative to request from the first appointment an estimate.
This possibility is offered by our site through quote generators even before the first appointment, which allows to fully frame the delivery of the lawyer.
As part of a package, it is imperative to provide in advance what will include the package (fees but also travel expenses, stamp costs, phone calls, … etc).
For example, the following packages are currently applied: For an amicable divorce of € 1,500 to € 3,500, for the recovery of unpaid rent between € 800 and € 1,200, for a building permit dispute between 1 500 and 2500 €.
It is also possible to make a fee agreement in which the lawyer will be remunerated mainly by a percentage.
This mode of operation is obviously conceivable only if the dispute is about a sum of money where will allow you to get one. If your dispute is about the cancellation of a building permit, there is no amount of money to the key, the fee agreement is inapplicable.
On the other hand, if you attack your employer in the context of a dismissal and you hope to obtain compensation, the fee agreement is possible.
The remuneration exclusively by way of profit-sharing agreement is illegal in France.
At least one part must be settled by a fixed fee.
Most lawyers therefore charge a modest fixed fee (between € 300 and € 700) that will be added to the performance fee (usually between 8% and 15%).
This may be an interesting solution that will help to “motivate the lawyer”.
Finally, in case of dispute over fees, it is the president of the Order of the lawyer concerned who is competent.
5. What is legal aid?
This is a system implemented by the State and allows, under certain conditions of resources, to have your lawyer’s fees paid by the State. This is an advantageous system that should not be hesitated to use.
On the other hand, it is imperative to make sure in advance that the lawyer accepts this mode of operation.
Indeed, lawyers have no obligation to accept legal aid, which some refuse because the compensation scales for their work, imposed by the state, are extremely low. It is imperative to make sure of this point with him.
On the other hand, our search engine makes it possible to search for lawyers having declared to accept the legal aid.
For more information: To be completed by a link.
6. What is legal protection insurance?
Legal protection insurance is an insurance that covers litigation and litigation.
It is either attached to a conventional insurance (a certain number of auto insurances include a legal protection allowing to contest for example the withdrawal of points) or can be subscribed in a completely independent way. There are also some legal protections attached to the credit card subscription.
These are very interesting insurances, indeed, for a monthly premium quite reasonable (from 5 to 10 €), your disputes will be covered by this insurance. Of course, there are deductibles and guarantee ceilings for these insurances and some do not cover any type of litigation.
On the other hand, when they are intended to apply, they cover not only the lawyer’s fees but also the bailiffs ‘fees, the legal experts’ fees, and so on.
It is therefore an excellent solution.
In addition, the use of this insurance does not prevent you from choosing the lawyer you want.
Lastly, these insurances are not always limited and make it possible to take care of several disputes at the same time.
7. Can I easily change my lawyer?
The rules of ethics governing the relations between lawyers make it easy to change lawyers.
As a courtesy, you will obviously have informed your initial lawyer not only that you no longer want to work with him, but also why you no longer want to work with him.
After paying your fees, you will be able to see a new lawyer who will handle the direct transmission of your file.
Be careful, in a number of procedures, files can only be passed from lawyer to lawyer and you will not be able, if you do not choose a new lawyer, to “get your file back”.
In addition, and contrary to popular belief, lawyers in principle only keep copies and therefore do not have to make any records.
The file that has been processed remains in the cabinet and is archived for five years without you being able to demand any restitution of these elements, with the exception of the originals.
The change of lawyer is easy.
However, be careful not to abuse the possibility of changing your lawyer and book this solution only in situations of deep dissatisfaction.
Indeed, the new lawyer will have to re-study the entire file which will, by definition, lead to an increase in fees. Also be careful not to, by a too large succession of lawyers, to appear as a “difficult client” that no more lawyer of the place will wish to treat.