There are currently a whopping 1.33 million licensed attorneys in the United States. Of those, over 168,000 are in California. In fact, California has the second-highest number of attorneys compared to any state in the U.S. It is second only to New York.
With all of these options, it is no wonder finding the right attorney in California can be a bit overwhelming. However, not all attorneys are created equal—many will not fit your needs or your personality. So, how can you choose? The tips below will help you find the lawyer in Los Angles County that will work best for your personal injury case.
Focus on Experience.
Many lawyers will practice in just one or two areas of the law. In that way, they get very good at a few subparts of the legal profession. That also means that they do not know nearly as much about other areas.
For example, estate planning attorneys will generally decline to take litigation cases. Litigators who focus their practice on personal injury will likewise pass on cases involving creating estate plans. As a personal injury victim, you need an attorney that experience with the type of case that you are bringing—the lawyer that did your will is often not the right choice to assert your car accident claim.
You should also take the time to ask whether a potential attorney has the specific experience you need. If you need a dog bite attorney, be sure that your lawyer has done dog bite cases before and has had some success in that area of the law.
Consider Reputation.
What other people have to say about a lawyer can tell you a lot. If your attorney has a poor reputation, then you may not want to use them for your case. Consider what friends, family, and co-workers have to say about the lawyer. Online reviews can sometimes be helpful as well.
You can also consider a lawyer’s reputation in the context of how you want to assert your case. For example, if you want a lawyer that will negotiate matters quickly, that type of feedback from others may be more important to you. If you want to assert your case in court, then getting an excellent trial attorney may be a priority. What will matter to you in terms of reputation may not be the same as someone else.
Don’t Forget Personality and Responsiveness!
Personality and a lawyer’s approach to building a case are sometimes overlooked. However, how you get along with an attorney and their willingness to provide information and feedback is extremely important in a successful personal injury case. Your Los Angeles personal injury lawyer’s personality should mesh well with your own. He or she should give you confidence about your situation. You should also be able to trust that your lawyer is going to act in your best interests.
The best way to figure out if a lawyer is a right match for you is to set up a consultation or an evaluation of your case. We encourage those considering asserting a personal injury lawsuit in Los Angeles to contact our firm to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. Come meet our team and see if we are the right fit for you!
