At some point in all our lives we all need to use the services of a lawyer of some kind.
Whether you are facing criminal charges or simply want to have a contract examined before entering into a new business agreement, you want to find the best possible legal representation.
The very first thing that you need to do when choosing the right Glasgow lawyers is to do some online research into the type of cases they take and the experiences of their previous clients.
Once you have a shortlist of potential options you should arrange a consultation with a lawyer you believe may be suitable.
This is your opportunity to ask all the questions that you have. If you are meeting a lawyer for the first time in your life or have never used a lawyer for this specific purpose before you might be unsure of the best things to ask. This is where we come in. Read on to learn the top 6 most important questions to ask a lawyer when you meet for the first time and how to tell if they are a good fit.
What do you specialise in?
This information will probably be available online but it is always good to hear from the horses mouth exactly what areas of the law a lawyer is most experienced in.
Some of the areas of law that lawyers may practice in exclusively include criminal law, civil rights law, family law, or entertainment law.
What do you look for in a client?
Many lawyers are very particular about the clients they work with and it is just as important that they are comfortable working with you as you are them.
Lawyers who have a history of success working with people in similar situations in the past are much more likely to be a good fit for you.
What is your background?
How much experience do they have? What similar cases have they worked on in the past? These are all important questions to ask, and whilst a lawyer may not be able to go into specifics about certain previous cases, they will be able to reassure you that they have the experience you need.
If possible look for a lawyer with at least 5-10 years of experience in the area of law you are looking for, especially if the case may end up in a court trial.
What are your fees?
This is absolutely critical. Never use a lawyer who is not completely upfront about their fees and makes it clear what is included in their base rate and what will be additional.
A lack of clarity here can bring uncertainty and distrust further down the line. This does not mean choosing the cheapest possible lawyer you can find, but you do need to make sure that you are in a position to pay for the services you are seeking.
Some of the fees that your lawyer should be able to lay out include their flat fees, retainer fees, and statutory fees.
At the very least they should be able to give you an estimate based on your explanation of the services you need to allow you to budget accordingly.
How will you approach this case?
A lawyer will need to fully review all the details of your case before developing a full gameplan but they will be able to outline the approach that they expect to take.
From this you will be able to get an idea of the type of lawyer they are, whether they prefer to settle or go to court, whether they will take an aggressive or conservative approach to negotiations etc.
If their ideas match your own or you are happy with how they intend to proceed, they may well be the right lawyer to choose.
What do you think will happen with my case?
Individual Glasgow lawyers may not be able to or willing to make a precise production or promise for the outcome of the case, and you should be wary of one who does.
However, they should be able to give you an outline of the potential outcomes, including a best case scenario towards which you will work.
They may exceed these expectations, or be unable to quite reach them but this gives you a realistic goal to aim for and lets you know that they have taken the time to get to know the details of your situation prior to the consultation.