A range of circumstances one encounters may require the expertise of a licensed attorney. For example, you may be starting a business, accused of a crime, cheated out of a contract, injured in a car accident or writing a will. The initial selection of an attorney may impact the resulting outcome, liability, cost and stress. Some factors one may wish to consider when selecting an attorney are the attorney’s practice area, fee arrangements and referrals.

Like most careers, law can be a specialized profession. Just as you would not trust a foot specialist to conduct your heart surgery, you should be cognizant of an attorney’s specialties (i.e. family law, criminal law, etc.) and experience before entering into an attorney-client relationship. Some attorney’s may specialize in a particular field, which may make them more qualified and experienced to assist you.

Attorney’s fees vary depending on case complexity, the size/notoriety of the involved firm, and the expectation of success. You may wish to engage an attorney on a contingent fee, flat fee, or hourly basis. A contingent fee arrangement means the attorney only collects fees (typically 1/3 of earned damages) if the client recovers damages. Contingent fee arrangements are common in personal injury, debt collection and medical malpractice matters. Flat fee arrangements are typical for matters that are well defined, such as drafting a will or a bankruptcy filing. Hourly fees very and one should be cognizant of the potential number of hours involved before entering into an hourly agreement.

Finally, a referral from a trusted family member, friend or colleague should hold significant weight. With the large number of attorney’s throughout the country, it may be difficult to ensure you are making a good selection without speaking to someone who has had prior experience working with the attorney.

Please contact Justice360@muslimcongress.org if you have any questions about attorney referrals.

The author of this article can be reached via email at Justice360@muslimcongress.org. For more information about Justice360, visit http://www.muslimcongress.org/360.

DISCLAIMER: Justice360° Legal Bulletin’s are meant to assist in the general understanding of the current law relating to the stated topics. JUSTICE360° LEGAL BULLETINS SHOULD NOT BE REGARDED AS LEGAL ADVICE. Organizations or individuals with specific questions should seek the advice of legal counsel.