How to find and get the credentials of a personal injury lawyer

The worst time to try and find a Lawyer is when you need one. You won't be thinking clearly.

1) When looking for a Lawyer find one that gets paid pro bono. Once you start paying a lawyer up front it never seems to end.

2) Ask friends if they can recommend a Lawyer.

3) Find out which court house you will be going to and get a Lawyer in that area. Ones outside your area won't want to do the extra drive. Plus they aren't familiar with the Judges in your area.

4) When the Lawyer asks you to sign an agreement, read it completely. Ask questions, take it home and show family and friends *before you sign it.*

5) Make sure it has a section, that if your Lawyer pulls out of your case, he won't get paid.

There are lawyers that will back out of a case and still keep the case open so they can get a cut of the winnings. If that happens to you, you may not be able to hire another lawyer.

Why you ask? Well the new lawyer would be sharing the cut with the old lawyer. Less money means no new lawyer, period!

6) Keep copies of everything that your lawyer sends you, even the emails. You may need them later.

Check out the American Bar Association site;
http://www.abanet.org/
http://www.gabar.org/
http://www.nysba.org/

From same site Lawyers Resources from Illinois.

http://www.abanet.org/lawyer.h tml

I did a search on Illinois Bar Association-Georgia Bar Association-New York Bar Association. Just put in your own state for information.

You can call a Lawyer you know, for a referral to the type of lawyer you will need.

Remember the first visit should be free. The Lawyer is doing you a service. You're not doing him a favor.

Just remember you have a time frame to file in court with any case. So don't think to long.

Learn more about this author, Gerardine Baugh.
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