Switching attorneys mid-stream can be a complicated and expensive process. You’re going to spend hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars, to bring the new attorney up to speed, so it’s doubly important to get the right person for the job the second time around.
Find the Attorney Who is Right For You
Hire the attorney that you want, not the attorney that does the most advertising and flaunts a whole lot of awards (for more information on this, click HERE). Additionally, don’t be afraid to tell the new attorney what happened with your last one. Discuss problems openly so you can avoid repeating the same issues.
Meet Them in Person
You can’t determine whether you’re going to get along with a lawyer from watching a TV commercial. You have to go sit in an office together and talk. If you get along, great. If you don’t, it’s not a fit.
I always give my clients an initial consultation at no charge. Why? If someone has to pay me for that first meeting, they’re far more likely to say, “Well, I already spent money with Barre, it’s just easier to stay with him.” I don’t want that any more than they do.
Don’t Worry About the Specifics
I never discuss the facts of the case or offer any opinions at that initial consultation. This frustrates some potential clients who are looking for immediate answers.
As a young attorney, I made the mistake of offering opinions too early in the process. Clients hired me based off of what I told them at the first meeting, but, as the case wore on and new information came to light, my opinions often changed. You can imagine this made some clients very angry. Lesson learned. Now all I do during the initial consultation is talk about the system and how I operate.
If you’re up against a deadline, you may feel the need to rush into hiring your new lawyer. Don’t. It’s important that you take some time to think things through before committing, especially if you’re already in the middle of a case, and it’s especially important to make sure that you and the new attorney are on the same page before you begin work.
The worst thing in the world is to be fighting with your attorney at the same time you’re fighting with the other side in a court case, so make sure you and your attorney have the same ideas about your working relationship.
Some people want an attorney who’ll make all their decisions for them and some people want to be very involved. Just remember, by the time you’re thinking about switching attorneys, you’ve been through the hiring process at least once. You know how to do this.
If you are considering switching attorneys and want to be sure you won’t run into the same problems you had with the last one, call our office today at (720) 999-9506 to set up a free consultation.