How To Pick The Law Firm You Instruct?
Choosing the right law firm involves evaluating several key factors such as their practice focus, years of experience, operational structure, client testimonials, media coverage, and their availability outside regular hours. Understanding these elements will help ensure you select a firm that best meets your legal needs.
How Do I Pick the Right Law Firm for My Needs?
Selecting the right law firm to represent your business is a crucial decision. To ensure you’re choosing the best match for your company, you need to ask the right questions and conduct thorough due diligence. This process can be daunting, but if done properly, it can help you make an informed choice.
Here are some key points to guide you:
Check if They’re Private Practice Only
First, determine if the law firm focuses solely on private practice or if it mixes private practice with legal aid cases. Some firms handle both, but mixing these two can dilute its private practice ethos and may indicate a reliance on government-funded work. A firm that exclusively engages in private practice likely has an organic following and an excellent reputation, which can be reassuring when you or your business is in need.
Check How Long They’ve Been in Business
You should also find a way to verify how long the firm has been in business. Use resources like the Law Society website to confirm the actual duration the firm has been operating. Some firms might claim to have long-standing experience, but confirming their legitimacy is essential. Be cautious of startups that operate from postal addresses and inflate their presence using consultants. These could be “one-man bands” without substantial infrastructure. Transparency about their operational history and structure is essential.
Look at How the Firm is Set Up
Understanding the firm’s organisational structure is also important. In critical situations, seamless access to your legal team is vital, so ensure the firm provides 24/7 support. Additionally, check for contingency plans. If your primary lawyer is unavailable, you need to know there’s a backup strategy in place. Inquire, “If you’re not available, who will be my lawyer?”
Look for Testimonials and Reviews
Seeking genuine testimonials and reviews is another key step. In a world dominated by social media and marketing, distinguishing genuine reviews from fake ones can be challenging. It’s a good idea to look for testimonials from actual clients and ask for references. Request the names of three clients who received similar services from the attorney and contact these clients to ask detailed questions about the attorney’s services, quality of work, billing practices, and outcomes. Former clients can provide valuable insights that will help you evaluate the attorney effectively.
Google Their Name and Look for Media Coverage
Finally, make sure you Google the firm’s name and look for media coverage. Just know that the internet can offer both useful and unhelpful information, so focus on personnel profiles and significant cases the firm has handled. Media coverage and lead cases can illustrate the credibility of the firm and the attorneys you might be instructing.
In conclusion, to pick the right law firm for your needs, you should evaluate their practice focus, verify their business longevity, understand their organisational structure, seek genuine testimonials and reviews, and check their media coverage.
Additionally, you might consider testing their accessibility by reaching out at different times, including weekends and unsavoury hours. This comprehensive approach will help you select a law firm that aligns with your business needs and provides reliable support.
