Rockford IL Lawyers - How to Hire the Right Firm

With the number of Rockford IL Lawyers there are to choose from, making a final decision is a little overwhelming. Not every lawyer will be the right one for the job, so you need to make your decision carefully. Here are the steps you should follow when hiring an attorney.

Step one: Type of Lawyer
Finding the right lawyer is not just about determining what type of attorney you need, but the sub-specialty that you need. There are plenty of Personal Injury Lawyers in the Chicago / Rockford area, but all of them have different areas of expertise. For example, one firm may specialize in spinal injuries, while another firm specializes in wrongful death and medical malpractice.

Step two: Determine Your Budget
Most Personal Injury Lawyers do not charge per hour, but work on a contingency basis. Hiring an attorney on a contingency basis means, they charge you a certain percentage, which varies per attorney. The attorney does not receive this percentage unless they win your case. Determining your budget is important because if your attorney doesn’t win the case you are responsible for legal expenses incurred during the course of your case, such as filing fees.

Step three: Reputations
Checking out the reputations of Rockford IL Lawyers is important, no matter which method you choose. One way to look into their reputations is to ask your friends and family about any lawyers they used to handle their legal issues. You also need to find out if they would be willing to hire the lawyer again. 

Once you have narrowed down your choices based on the referrals from family and friends you will want to do some further investigation. The internet is a great place to go to find out what others have to say about the attorney you are considering. While you can check out an attorney’s website, you won’t want to take too much stock in any testimonials on their page because they can come from anybody, not just actual clients. You will want to check out various legal forums to find out what others are saying. The Bar Association, as well as the Better Business Bureau is useful for finding out about any issues people have had with the firm.

Step four: Consult With the Lawyers
Many Rockford IL Lawyers offer you a free consultation, which enables you to come into the office and discuss the different aspects of your case. The consultation is a great method for finding out if you even have a case, which is important in personal injury cases. What the consultation is not is a chance to get free legal advice, most attorneys will simply outline what they can do to help you, give you a general idea on what you can expect, and offer you details on what they charge and what they are willing to do. A consultation is the perfect opportunity to get to know the attorney, which will often give you an idea about whether you like their style or not. If you don’t like the attorney there are plenty more to choose from.