Here are 9 questions you should ask every lawyer you are thinking about hiring. Use this Slideshare together with our presentation "3 Ways to Find a Good Lawyer" to help you find, interview and hire your next lawyer.
We hope this information helps you interview and hire the right lawyer for you and your family. We look forward to your comments and feedback. Thanks!
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9 Questions to Ask a Lawyer
1.
2. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
WITH MORE THAN 1,000,000 LAWYERS IN THE
UNITED STATES AND OVER 200,000 IN
CALIFORNIA, IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE FINDING,
INTERVIEWING AND HIRING THE RIGHT LAWYER
TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR CASE.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
3. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
USING THE TIPS IN THE SLIDESHARE “3 WAYS
TO FIND A GOOD LAWYER” YOU’VE FOUND A
LAWYER AND NOW NEED TO INTERVIEW HIM OR
HER.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
Click here to review “3 Ways to Find a Good Lawyer”
4. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
HERE ARE 9 QUESTIONS YOU NEED TO ASK AND
THE ANSWERS YOU NEED TO HEAR.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
5. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
QUESTION #1: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN
PRACTICING LAW?
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
6. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
THE ATTORNEY’S ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION
IS IMPORTANT AND CAN BE VERY REVEALING.
IT TAKES MANY YEARS TO BECOME PROFICIENT
IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
7. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
I RECOMMEND THAT YOU MAKE SURE AN
ATTORNEY YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT HIRING
HAS, AT A MINIMUM, AT LEAST 10-15 YEARS OF
SUBSTANTIAL LITIGATION EXPERIENCE.
FRANKLY, 15-25 YEARS IS EVEN BETTER!
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
8. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
SURE, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE
AND I KNOW SEVERAL VERY GOOD ATTORNEYS
WITH LESS THAN 5 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
WHAT THEY LACK IN TRIAL EXPERIENCE THEY
MAKE UP FOR WITH INTELLIGENCE, DRIVE,
PASSION.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
9. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
QUESTION #2: WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR
PRACTICE IS DEVOTED TO [THE TYPE OF CASE
YOU NEED HELP WITH]?
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
10. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
FOR THE PAST 10-15 YEARS OF A LAWYER’S
PRACTICE, AT LEAST 90% OF THE ATTORNEY’S
TIME SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON
REPRESENTING CLIENTS IN THE TYPE OF CASE
YOU NEED HELP WITH.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
11. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
WHY NOT 100%? WELL, THERE ARE TWO GOOD
REASONS.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
12. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
FIRST, THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION IS THAT
GOOD TRIAL LAWYERS ARE HARD TO FIND. MOST
WILL HANDLE THE LITIGATION NEEDS OF PAST
CLIENTS AND FRIENDS IN OTHER AREAS OF LAW.
THEY FIND IT INTERESTING AND CHALLENGING TO
TAKE ON OTHER CASES AND HELP PEOPLE
SUCCEED IN OTHER AREAS OF LAW.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
13. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
SECOND, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE EXPERIENCE
AND KNOWLEDGE GAINED IN TAKING OTHER TYPES
OF CASES TO TRIAL ALLOW A LAWYER TO GAIN
NEW INSIGHT TO VARIOUS “OUTSIDE-THE-BOX”
LITIGATION APPROACHES HE OR SHE MAY NOT
NORMALLY BE EXPOSED TO. THIS CAN BE VERY
BENEFICIAL TO THE CLIENT.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
14. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
QUESTION #3: HOW MANY COURT AND JURY
TRIALS HAVE YOU HAD AND WHAT WERE YOUR
RESULTS?
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
15. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
ASK QUESTIONS:
• HAVE YOU HAD ANY COURT OR JURY TRIALS?
• WHEN WAS THE LAST TRIAL YOU HAD?
• HOW MANY OF THESE TRIALS INVOLVED [YOUR TYPE OF CASE]?
• WHAT WERE THE PRE-TRIAL SETTLEMENT OFFERS?
• WHAT WERE THE RESULTS AND VERDICTS?
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
16. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS WILL GIVE
YOU GOOD INSIGHT ABOUT THE PERSON
YOU’RE SITTING ACROSS FROM.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
17. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
QUESTION #4: WILL I BE INTERACTING
DIRECTLY WITH YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE IN
YOUR OFFICE?
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
18. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
THE ATTORNEY YOU HIRE SHOULD HAVE THE
TIME TO MEET WITH YOU AND TALK WITH YOU
OVER THE TELEPHONE.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
19. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
THE ATTORNEY YOU HIRE SHOULD BE THE
ATTORNEY APPEARING IN DEPOSITIONS,
HEARINGS AND COURT ON YOUR BEHALF.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
20. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
THE ATTORNEY YOU HIRE SHOULD BE THE
ATTORNEY WHO WILL NEGOTIATE ON YOUR
BEHALF AND IF NECESSARY, TAKE YOUR CASE
TO TRIAL.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
21. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
HERE’S SOMETHING MOST CLIENTS ARE NOT
AWARE OF: IN MANY FIRMS, AFTER YOU MEET
WITH THE SENIOR PARTNER DURING YOUR
INITIAL CONSULTATION, THE SECRETARIES, LAW
CLERKS AND PARALEGALS DO ALL THE WORK.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
22. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
YOUNG AND INEXPERIENCED ASSOCIATE
LAWYERS WORK THE FILE, NEGOTIATE, AND
EVEN APPEAR IN COURT ON YOUR BEHALF.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
23. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
THE SENIOR ATTORNEY OR PARTNER MAY
RARELY WORK OR LOOK AT THE FILE. THIS IS
AN UGLY TRUTH THAT MANY CLIENTS ARE NOT
AWARE OF. NOW YOU ARE!
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
24. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
FOR THIS REASON, IF YOUR INITIAL
CONSULTATION IS SCHEDULED WITH A CLERK,
PARALEGAL OR NEW ASSOCIATE BECAUSE THE
PARTNER DOES NOT HAVE TIME TO MEET WITH
YOU, WE STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU
RESCHEDULE IMMEDIATELY.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
25. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, WE STRONGLY
SUGGEST THAT YOU RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN
IN THE OTHER DIRECTION.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
26. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
QUESTION #5: ARE YOU “AV” RATED BY
MARTINDALE-HUBBELL AND WHAT OTHER
AWARDS OR RATINGS HAVE YOU RECEIVED?
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
27. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
REGARDING AN “AV” RATING, “YES” IS THE
ONLY ANSWER YOU SHOULD SETTLE FOR.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
28. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
AN “AV” RATING IDENTIFIES A LAWYER AND
FIRM AS HAVING (1) VERY HIGH TO
PREEMINENT LEGAL ABILITY AND (2) THE
HIGHEST LEVEL OF EXPERTISE, EXPERIENCE,
INTEGRITY AND OVERALL PROFESSIONAL
EXCELLENCE.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
29. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
THIS RATING IS THE BEST A LAWYER CAN GET. IT
CAN’T BE PURCHASED OR BARGAINED FOR. IT’S A
RATING GIVEN TO A LAWYER BY OTHER LAWYERS
AND JUDGES IN THE COMMUNITY. THE ATTORNEY
WHO IS BEING REVIEWED DOES NOT EVEN KNOW
THE PROCESS IS TAKING PLACE.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
30. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
THE “AV” RATING MEANS THAT THE LAWYER
CONSISTENTLY “SHOWS A DEMONSTRATION OF
THE HIGHEST PROFESSIONAL AND ETHICAL
STANDARDS.” ISN’T THAT THE KIND OF LAWYER
YOU WANT PROTECTING YOUR INTEREST?
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
31. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
QUESTION #6: ARE YOU AN ACTIVE MEMBER
IN THE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL TRIAL
LAWYER ORGANIZATIONS?
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
32. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
MOTIVATED AND PASSIONATE LAWYERS SHARE
TIPS, TOOLS, INFORMATION, AND TECHNIQUES
WITH OTHER ATTORNEYS ACROSS THE STATE,
COUNTRY AND WORLD.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
33. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
IT’S IMPORTANT FOR YOUR ATTORNEY TO BE
“PLUGGED INTO” THESE ORGANIZATIONS SO
THAT YOU CAN BENEFIT FROM THE EXCHANGE
OF INFORMATION.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
34. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
QUESTION #7: CAN YOU PROVIDE ME WITH
THE NAMES OF 5-10 PAST CLIENTS WHO ARE
WILLING TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH
ME ABOUT YOUR REPRESENTATION AND FIRM?
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
35. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
YOU CAN SIT ALL DAY IN THE ATTORNEY’S
OFFICE AND LISTEN TO THE ATTORNEY TELL
YOU JUST HOW GREAT HE OR SHE IS.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
36. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
WHILE THE ATTORNEY MAY BE VERY
CONVINCING, HOW DO YOU REALLY KNOW IF HE
OR SHE IS TELLING YOU THE TRUTH?
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
37. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
I BELIEVE SMART CONSUMERS SHOULD
INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRM THE LAWYER’S
ABILITIES BY TALKING WITH PAST CLIENTS.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
38. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
IT IS NOT OK FOR THE ATTORNEY TO RESPOND WITH
SOMETHING LIKE, “MY CASES ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND I
CAN’T DISCLOSE THIS INFORMATION.” THE DEFENSE
ATTORNEYS AND INSURANCE COMPANIES KNOW WHICH
CASES THE ATTORNEY HAS HANDLED AND SO SHOULD
YOU. IF YOU GET THIS KIND OF RESPONSE, BE VERY
CAUTIOUS.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
39. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
GOOD LAWYERS HAVE PLENTY OF HAPPY AND
SATISFIED CLIENTS WHO ARE MORE THAN
WILLING TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH
YOU.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
40. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
QUESTION #8: DO YOU HAVE TESTIMONIALS
FROM PAST CLIENTS AND OTHER LAWYERS I
CAN REVIEW?
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
41. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS ARE AN EXCELLENT WAY
TO SEE WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE
LAWYER YOU ARE MEETING. SOME LAWYERS
EVEN HAVE TESTIMONIALS FROM OTHER
LAWYERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
42. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
IF AN ATTORNEY DOES NOT HAVE, OR CANNOT
GIVE YOU CLIENT TESTIMONIALS, YOU NEED TO
ASK, “WHY NOT!”
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
43. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
QUESTION #9: AS MY CASE WORKS ITS WAY
THROUGH THE LEGAL SYSTEM, WILL YOU
ALWAYS LOOK ME IN THE EYE AND TELL ME
WHAT YOU HONESTLY THINK AND BELIEVE AS
OPPOSED TO WHAT YOU THINK I WANT TO
HEAR?
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
44. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
IF YOU HAVE A GOOD CASE, YOU WANT YOUR
LAWYER TO TELL YOU. IF YOUR CASE IS WEAK
OR HAS OTHER DIFFICULT LEGAL ISSUES, THEN
YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THEM RIGHT AWAY.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
45. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
YOU ALWAYS WANT YOUR LAWYER TO BE
TRUTHFUL AND HONEST WITH YOU
CONCERNING HIS OR HER ASSESSMENT OF THE
CASE AND YOUR OPTIONS.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
46. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
THE LAST THING YOU EVER WANT IS TO HAVE
YOUR LAWYER TELL YOU WHAT HE OR SHE
THINKS YOU WANT TO HEAR RATHER THAN
WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO HEAR.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
47. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
USE THESE 9 QUESTIONS (AND ANSWERS) TO
PROPERLY INTERVIEW LAWYERS YOU ARE
THINKING ABOUT HIRING. DOWNLOAD AND
PRINT THIS SLIDESHARE OUT AND TAKE IT
WITH YOU TO YOUR MEETING.
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
48. 9 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LAWYER
WE HOPE YOU FOUND THE INFORMATION IN
THIS PRESENTATION USEFUL. IF YOU HAVEN’T
ALREADY DONE SO, MAKE SURE TO USE “3
GOOD WAYS TO FIND A LAWYER” FIND A
LAWYER”
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
Click here to review “3 Ways to Find a Good Lawyer”
49. 3 WAYS TO FIND A GOOD LAWYER
MITCH JACKSON HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE TRIAL LAWYER SINCE
1986 AND IS THE 2013 CALIFORNIA LITIGATION LAWYER
OF THE YEAR (CLAY AWARD) AND 2009 ORANGE COUNTY
TRIAL LAWYER OF THE YEAR.
MITCH’S LAW FIRM WEBSITE IS JACKSONANDWILSON.COM
AND HIS COMMUNICATION TIPS BLOG IS MITCHJACKSON.COM
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044
50. 3 WAYS TO FIND A GOOD LAWYER
CONTACT INFO:
LAW FIRM: JACKSONANDWILSON.COM
COMMUNICATION TIPS: MITCHJACKSON.COM
TWITTER: @MITCHJACKSON
JacksonandWilson.com 800.661.7044