Guide to Finding Peoria Lawyer

Hundreds of lawyers practice in the city of Peoria alone. With all the Peoria lawyers to choose from, it can be intimidating to start looking through the phone book and calling attorneys. Maybe you're not even sure you need a Peoria lawyer yet. This guide can help you to narrow your focus and better understand your legal needs and the first steps toward getting competent representation by a Peoria lawyer.

Do You Need a Criminal or Civil Lawyer?

In general, lawyers specialize in either handling criminal cases (where the state prosecutes a criminal defendant) or civil cases (in which a person or organization sues another). Because civil and criminal law are so different, it is likely that you would want a different Peoria lawyer handling a DUI case than one who would handle a personal injury civil suit.

Some larger law firms have Peoria lawyers in both areas and can make sure that you are seen by a Peoria lawyer who matches your legal needs.

What is Your Case About?

In many trials and plea bargains, the experience of the lawyers matters a great deal. Because of this, to have the best legal outcome, you want to find Peoria lawyers who understand your case and have proven experience with similar cases.

If your case is criminal, you may want any of several kinds of Peoria lawyers:

 Public defenders work for free to give low-income criminal defendants representation. These Peoria lawyers cost you nothing, but you have no ability to choose your lawyer if you are given a public defender.

 Private criminal defense lawyers can specialize in different kinds of cases. If you are looking to defend yourself from DUI charges, a Peoria lawyer specializing in DUI cases may be more likely to help you keep your license.

If your case is civil, there are even more kinds of Peoria lawyers to choose from:

 Employment lawyers handle disputes over wage and hours violations, as well as discrimination lawsuits and harassment cases.

 Estate lawyers can help you to write a will or start a trust. A Peoria lawyer specializing in estate law can help you plan for your family's future and inform you of all your options.

 If you were hurt in a Peoria hospital, finding a Peoria lawyer who focuses on medical malpractice may mean that your bills can be taken care of. You could even be awarded damages for your pain and suffering.

 If you were injured in a car accident, personal injury Peoria lawyers can help you to negotiate a higher settlement with insurance companies.

 Divorce is always a stressful event, but a Peoria lawyer who has experience in divorce cases can help you to navigate the family court system successfully.

These are just some of the kinds of Peoria lawyers that are practicing in the city of Peoria every day. If you have a legal problem that hasn't been described above, searching with search terms relating to your problem on an internet search engine can help you to find Peoria lawyers who will meet your specific legal needs.

Can My Peoria Lawyer Force Me To Settle?

A common misconception about lawyers is that they will tell you what legal decisions to make. In reality, while your Peoria lawyer will give you advice and information, your final decisions are yours to make. Peoria lawyers can never force you to accept a plea bargain or settlement, even if they think it would be to your advantage to do so.

Similarly, your Peoria lawyer will always allow you to take a settlement or plea bargain if you wish to do so after understanding all of your rights and options. Sometimes you may want to settle out of court quickly, and your Peoria lawyer is there to represent you and your wishes.

Understanding Lawyer Fee Structures

Depending on what kind of case you are taking to your Peoria lawyer, you may find any of several different fee structures. In criminal cases, it is most common for lawyers in the state of Illinois to accept a flat fee, which is assessed either for the whole trial process or for each phase of the trial.

Other cases, including many civil cases, are more complex and do not readily lend themselves to Peoria lawyers charging a flat fee. In many of these cases, your Peoria lawyer will bill according to the amount of time he or she has spent on your case. In either case, Peoria lawyers who accept flat fees or bill hourly will discuss their fee structures at an initial consultation before you are charged according to their fees.

If you cannot afford a civil lawyer, you may still have options. A very small number of civil cases (usually involving civil liberties, harassment, or discrimination) can attract pro bono Peoria lawyers or even lawyers from Springfield or Chicago to work on the case for free.

Many other civil cases may be handled by private Peoria lawyers on a contingency fee basis, which means that the lawyer's fee consists of a portion of the total monetary damages awarded. If you lose a case that Peoria lawyers have accepted on a contingency basis, you owe them nothing. Typically, a Peoria lawyer will only accept a case on a contingency basis if he or she feels that there is a very good chance of obtaining a judgment in your favor or a settlement.

Investigating Your Peoria Lawyer

Because law is a profession requiring advanced education and licensing, lawyers must abide by ethical guidelines set out by each state. Peoria lawyers who behave unethically can be reprimanded or disciplined by the Attorney Registration and Discipline Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois.

Because the Discipline Commission keeps records of disciplined attorneys, you can use their website to search for your Peoria lawyer to make sure that you are hiring a lawyer with the ethical standards you expect and deserve.