Deciding on the right lawyeris a big decision, with many factors you need to take into account. The best way of choosing trusted lawyers in Frankston is to develop a list of criteria, and in the first session with a prospective firm, ask questions to reveal how they meet that list of important points. Some of the most important criteria include personality, communication style, fee structure, their record and their experience. You can add some of your own ideas to that list too. This article will dive deeper into these points in more depth below.
Personality
It’s essential that you find lawyers in Frankston whoare empathetic and have likeable personalities. During legal proceedings, you must feel 100% comfortable telling them anything and everything that pertains to your case. This is called full disclosure, and it could mean the difference between winning or losing in court. Even if your situation isn’t going to court, giving your lawyers in Frankston all the information will give them a better understanding which they can use to your advantage when attempting mediation or settlement. A lawyer with a likeable personality might also mean that mediation goes more smoothly, as the other party will have good feelings about the mediator.
Communication Style
The communication style of your lawyers in Frankston is another aspect that willdetermine if they’re a good match with you. Legal proceedings can be very stressful, so you don’t want to have to wait for lengthy response times via phone or email. Ask any prospective lawyers in Frankston what they consider a reasonable response time to be. If they don’t have a company policy on this, that could be a red flag. You should also ask any potentiallawyers what medium they usually use to contact you, and how frequently they would usually contact you. You may wish for more or less contact depending on your preferences. Either way, it’s good to be aware of their communication style early on in the professional relationship.
Fee Structure
While you’re having your first low-cost or free session with prospective lawyers in Frankston, ensure you ask about their fees. It might seem a bit rude, but it really is vital that you ask about this. Otherwise you could accidentally hire a firm that’s not within your budget. Lawyers usually charge via billable hours or a flat fee. Billable hours can quickly add up, so be wary if you choose this option. It’s a good idea to get an estimate of how many hours your case will need in order to be resolved. A flat fee is more predictable, yet occasionally extra costs won’t be included in the flat fee.
Record & Experience
When choosing trusted lawyers in Frankston, it’s useful to search online for their respective firms and see what past clients have to say about them. They might not have a perfect record, but the majority of the reviews should be positive. Pay attention to the content of the reviews to see what each firm does well and what they do less well. Also, once you’re in the room with potential lawyers, ask questions about their experience and anyareas of expertise. There are many areas of law, and it’s worth finding out if they cover the kind of law you need help with.
Find out more about making a TPD or income protection insurance claim with the help of an experienced lawyer. Our TPD Claims Lawyers are particularly efficient in showing you the right direction.