Regardless of the situation you’re in – whether you’re the party that filed the lawsuit or you’re on the defense side of the bench – going to court can be expensive and time consuming. While you can’t do anything about the latter part, you can attempt to save money by approaching the situation in a financially-savvy manner.
Hire the Right Attorney
The biggest waste of money is selecting the wrong lawyer. By choosing the right attorney from the start, you can avoid future issues and maximize the money you spend. If you’re looking for a defense attorney, here are three things to keep in mind:
- Experience. Your number one indicator regarding the quality of a lawyer is usually going to be experience. How long have they been in practice? What percentage of cases has resulted in successful verdicts for the client? These basic numbers can help you rule out certain lawyers and lead you to further consider others.
- Specialization. If the attorney has experience, you next want to consider their level of specialization. Do they have experience taking on cases similar to yours? While some attorneys practice in a number of different areas, you likely don’t want to hire a real estate attorney to handle an aggravated assault case.
- Reputation. Finally, you should do a little research on the attorney’s reputation. Are they well respected? Do previous clients speak highly of them? The past is likely your best indicator of the future.
Other Helpful Tips
Getting the right attorney from the start can save you thousands of dollars over the course of your preparation and trial. However, there are a few other tips to keep in mind.
- DIY. If you’re dealing with a petty issue or minor ordeal, you may consider taking the do-it-yourself route. There are plenty of reputable websites and free resources that can assist you in your search for information. However, if there is a lot at stake, this is not an advisable approach.
- Comparison shop. Who says you can’t shop around for the best price? As is the case with any product or service, you’ll likely find that fees and expenses can vary quite drastically. If one attorney is priced well above another comparable attorney, you may even be able to use the price difference as a point of leverage.
- Ask for a flat fee. Is your case pretty simple? If so, you may want to ask for a flat fee arrangement. This ensures you know exactly what you’re spending and that there won’t be any surprise fees or expenses on the backend.
- Be efficient. Time is quite literally money when you’re dealing with an attorney who operates on an hourly rate structure. Be efficient with your communications and limit phone calls and emails. If you’ve done your research and hired a respected attorney, you should be able to trust them with your case.
- Review your bill. Lawyers can make mistakes or slip in a couple extra expenses. Always double check your bill and ask for clarification on anything you don’t understand.
While your main focus should be on getting quality legal services that give you the best chance of obtaining a successful verdict, it’s also important to spend your money wisely. Use these tips to maximize your dollars and make the right choice.
