Hire a lawyer

You can successfully represent yourself in many types of court cases, but law can be very complicated. It can be very useful to have a lawyer’s help.

Deciding to hire a lawyer

You can hire a lawyer to help with your entire case. Or, you can hire a lawyer to help with just part of your case. For example, the lawyer writes an agreement for you or advises you about your options and possible outcomes.

You have a complicated case or a case that may become complicated. You may not always realize a case is or could be complicated without talking to a lawyer.
The other side has a lawyer.
You want legal advice.
You want a confidential attorney-client relationship.
You want to discuss strategies for your case, like where to file your lawsuit, whether to file a response, whether to ask for a jury, and many other decisions that will come up during the case.
You want someone to negotiate for you with the other side.
You are worried that the other side will not “play fair” (a lawyer is more likely to notice this and know what to do).
You are going to have a jury trial. There are complicated decisions to make during a jury trial, from choosing a jury to how to effectively present a case to a jury.
You are too close emotionally to the case and have a hard time seeing things objectively.

Check the lawyer's background

Before you meet with a lawyer, review the lawyer's background and discipline record at the State Bar’s web page on Attorney Search. Check that the lawyer is in good standing with the State Bar.

Interview the lawyer

When you meet with a lawyer, ask them questions to make sure you know what the lawyer will do for you and how much it will cost. You will then have to decide for yourself if this is the lawyer for you.

Questions to ask when interviewing a lawyer

Ask about their experience
- What is your experience in this field?
- Have you handled cases like mine before?
- When is the last time you handled a case like mine?
- Will anyone else be working on my case? For example, an associate lawyer, legal assistant, paralegal?
- If another lawyer will be the one mostly handling your case, ask if you can meet them.
What they expect may happen in your case
- What steps will be involved in my case?
- What are the possible outcomes?
- How long do you expect this case to take?
- What are my alternatives? Is arbitration or mediation a possibility?
- How will you keep me informed as the case progresses?
How do they charge
- How do you charge for your time and that of your staff?
- Do you charge by the hour, a fixed fee, or on contingency?
- Do you require a retainer?
- What other expenses will there be, and how are they calculated?
- What can be done to reduce fees and costs? (Costs include telephone calls, photocopying, assistant help, court fees, travel expenses, and so on.)
- Can you put your estimates in writing?
- How often will I be billed?
- Can I do some of the work?

Deciding whether to hire the lawyer

Once you get answers to your questions, consider:

Will you be comfortable working closely with the lawyer?
Do you think the lawyer has the experience and skill to handle your case?
Do you understand the lawyer's explanation of what your case involves?
Does the fee seem reasonable?

If the answers are yes, you may want to hire this lawyer. Make sure you understand the agreement before you sign it. If you are not comfortable with any of the terms, do not sign it. And if you cannot work out your disagreement, you may want to find a new lawyer.

Hire a lawyer

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