Worcester Massachusetts Lawyer

The Right Worcester MA Lawyer

The law encompasses just everything in life – everything from taxes, to death, to marriage, to divorce, to even copyright. Likewise, you can find the law everywhere all over the U.S., in particular for the purposes of this article, right smack in Massachusetts in a town called Worcester.

And without a doubt, if someone has an issue or dilemma with the law, the one piece of advice still remains the same: to hire the right Worcester Massachusetts lawyer for the job.

There is, of course, one question that constantly comes up in the mind of any client, for any case, dispute, or settlement. It’s simply this:

How Does One Find That Worcester MA Lawyer?

And not just any Worcester Massachusetts lawyer. But the right one? A client might say that’s like looking for a needle in a stack of needles. Forget the haystack. There’s no haystack here.

And for that matter, why does it matter to find the right Worcester MA Lawyer? Because every case is unique, even cases under the same niche of the legal field. Likewise, each attorney a client will find in Worcester has his or her own unique qualities. Some qualities may benefit a client’s case; and some may not.

It’s the job of the client to figure that out.

And here’s how:

• Doing the Right Research

• Scheduling All the Consultations

• Considering All the Rates and Fees

That’s basically it. But don’t be conned into thinking that it’s going to work out pretty quickly. Working these steps will take a certain amount of time. It’s not the same thing as picking out a plumber for a common drain issue.

This is a settlement case for an insurance claim. This is a dispute for child custody during a divorce hearing. This is a trial for murder in the 1st degree.

These are serious issues and pretty much requires not only the best Worcester Massachusetts lawyer – but the right one.

So let’s begin:

The First Step: the Research

Now, yes, finding a plumber is as easy as looking in the phone book. Likewise, though, finding Worcester Massachusetts lawyers in the phone book is also easy. But only for one reason:

To get all the contact information a client needs at first. No client should ever make a decision right out of the phone book to hire any lawyer. Period. The point of using the phone book is to simply get the contact info. And for an obvious reason: because it’s easy!

Typically, a client’s going to look for those Worcester MA Lawyers in the phone book that only list the basic information – full name of firm or office, phone number, e-mail, web site URL, and location. No cheesy 1-800 numbers, no sales language or overblown rhetoric. Just the facts, ma’am.

The reason why is because that’s a good indication that these Worcester Massachusetts lawyers know that they don’t have to openly ‘sell’ their services. The legal industry is chock full of demand. Look all around you.

There are cases everywhere for all kinds of niches within the legal field. And there’s no doubt an experienced attorney’s going to have a hard time finding clientele.

Typically, any shortlist of Worcester MA Lawyers will add up to about five, maybe six listings. That’s all a client’s going to need, really.

This is particularly obvious as it leads to the very next step….

The All-Important Free Consultation

Understand that no client should pass this one up. Most, if not all, lawyers in Massachusetts – everywhere, for that matter – offer this to prospective clients.

The point behind a free consultation is simple: for the client to learn about the lawyer and the lawyer’s experience, and for the lawyer to learn about the case.

The outcome of a consultation can result in the attorney accepting or denying the case, or the client either keeping the attorney on the shortlist or not. Either way, it gets the client progressing through the steps well by whittling down that shortlist and getting to the best possible Worcester Massachusetts lawyers in the game.

Common questions clients can ask are as follows:

• What type of cases do you normally handle?

• What kind of clients do you normally represent?

• How many clients do you represent?

• How many cases have you tried in court?

• How many cases have you WON?

• How many cases have you lost and why?

• Which law school did you graduate from?

And, of course, for some clients, this last question may be the most important:

• How much do you charge?

What a Client Needs to Know About Attorney Rates and Fees

Don’t think that an attorney just gets paid a simple hourly rate, or even a flat fee per case. It’s not that simple. Knowing the rates and fees is important to making a good decision. Don’t skimp on the experience, though….

Fees and rates to consider:

• “Retainer” Fee

• Hourly Rate

• “Contingency” Fee

Which form of payment’s the best way to go? That depends on the case.

A “retainer” is simply a down payment on services even before the case is worked on. No client can hire a lawyer without paying this fee, and retainer fees can go anywhere between $2,000 to $8,000 or even more.

So recognize that a client needs to save up a lot before considering a lawyer. However, retainers are a good sign that an attorney’s experienced.

The hourly rate is just that – an hourly rate, only it varies from lawyer to lawyer. So consider what you’re dealing with carefully.

But depending on the case, a “contingency” fee may be the way to go. It’s simply a percentage paid to the lawyer after the case is closed, typically a percentage off any settlement amount (if the case is about a claim for a certain amount of money).

In other words, a lawyer charging a “contingency” fee will only get paid once the client gets paid! Obviously, financially that’s a good deal for the client.

The Final Decision

Gathering all the necessary information, rates and fees – a client then must come to a decision.

By then, though, it’s a sure bet that the client has a pretty good chance of choosing the right lawyer in Worcester, Massachusetts, for the job!