How to Build the Best Legal Team for Your Needs | Whenever we are faced with a legal problem, contacting attorneys to help us resolve our issues is a natural response. But with such a high number of reputable law firms to choose from, selecting the best lawyer for our specific situation can often be a challenging task. However, it is still an important process to go through in an effort to achieve success and a favorable result. With that in mind, here are some essential aspects you might want to consider when building a legal team, whether you are seeking legal help for your family, your business, or even yourself:
Start by identifying your specific issues
The first step to building a good legal team is having a deep understanding of the issues you are currently facing. The law is a broad field that comes with a number of different specialties, and determining what type of attorney would be best suited to resolving your issues is the only way to accurately select the right person to represent you. In case you have trouble identifying your legal problems, consulting a trusted professional such as a corporate lawyer or even an accountant can be of great help.
Selecting the best specialists for your specific issues is quite important, as only a specialist will be knowledgeable in the legal nuances and the latest developments regarding your legal problems. While this might not seem quite so relevant at first, this specialized knowledge and expertise could truly be the difference between winning and losing a case.
Consider the professionalism of attorneys
Professionalism isn’t just a personality trait; it involves certain actions, behaviors, and objectives that distinguish the best lawyers from the good ones. To that end, keep in mind there are some attributes a professional attorney should have, if you want to ensure you’ve made the right choice.
Among other aspects, a great lawyer should work enthusiastically to defend your best interests, while attempting to be as economical and efficient as possible with your resources. Similarly, professional attorneys should also establish good communication, follow-up promptly and provide the necessary information, while being equally respectful of your time, money, and goals concerning legal matters. Displaying passion and devotion for solving your legal issues is another important trait of great lawyers as well.
Ensure the lawyers have suitable experience
Apart from being knowledgeable and professional, a great attorney also needs to have enough experience in their specialized field. It’s generally recommended to choose only the individuals that have a successful track record of resolving legal issues similar to yours, as such a good experience significantly increases the chances of a favorable outcome.
Australians, for instance, are well aware of this fact. For that reason, they only choose to work with the best, most experienced lawyers in Sydney who offer quick and practical legal advice, and easily lead their clients to success. These attorneys also have extensive expertise in all kinds of law, from estate planning and family law to disputes and business law, making it that much simpler for Australians to select the most competent lawyers for their specific legal issues.
Evaluate the resources and support network
On the other hand, in countries like the US, where the choice of law firms is even broader, individuals have a difficult time choosing between larger, mid-sized, and smaller companies. Although the size of the firm you work with often depends on the legal problem you are facing, the choice can turn out to be much more difficult in many instances.
For example, larger firms are generally thought to have more experience, more competent lawyers, and more capacity for handling complex cases, but their services are also significantly more expensive compared to their smaller counterparts in most cases. When selecting the right firm for your needs, it might be wise to weigh all of these aspects before making the final decision, in order to ensure you’ve made the best, most suitable compromise.
Inquire about arrangements and fees
Of course, the cost is another important aspect you should discuss with your legal team. Ask your lawyers to explain the firm’s preferred billing methods, whether it’s hourly rates, contingency arrangements, or flat fees, and inquire about reduced rates for a larger volume of work, if applicable. You might also want to ask about any additional expenses such as expert fees and travel charges, in order to know exactly what to expect.
As the competition among law firms is more intense than ever, negotiations might be able to give you a slightly better deal. In addition, you could also inquire about any additional business arrangements or special services the firm might be providing, and include the best offers in your final written agreement.
When building a good legal team, there are a number of different factors to consider, with different situations requiring different solutions. However, the advice mentioned above includes some of the most common considerations that can help you in finding the best lawyers for your specific situation whenever the need arises.
