Guide to Oklahoma City Law Firms
Looking through the phone book to find an Oklahoma City law firm can be confusing and overwhelming. Advertisements often don't contain enough information to tell you what you need to know about Oklahoma City law firms. If you need an Oklahoma City law firm to represent you, this guide can help by explaining the different types of firms that are available and what types of clients may need them.
Before Starting
Everyone wants different things out of their experience with Oklahoma City law firms. A good way to begin to narrow your search is to ask yourself what you want from an Oklahoma City law firm and write your answer down.
Start by writing a single sentence clearly describing the legal problem you want Oklahoma City law firms to assist you with. Then describe the ideal solution for your problem that an Oklahoma City law firm may be able to help you achieve. For instance, “I want to file divorce papers on my husband. I am hoping to keep our children at least part of the time, and I want to keep the house.”
After this, consider what you want from Oklahoma City law firms in terms of the lawyer/client relationship. What kind of Oklahoma City law firm would make you happier: a laid-back, relaxed firm, or a very formal and businesslike firm? Do you want your lawyer to be aggressive? Experienced? Down to earth? Comforting? Write down your ideal answers, and don't worry—it's not about right or wrong answers, only finding the best Oklahoma City law firms for your needs.
Large Law Firms
Size makes a big difference to the atmosphere of law firms. The largest Oklahoma City law firms have well over 100 lawyers, and for some clients, this “deep bench” of experienced lawyers can be exactly the right kind of representation. A large Oklahoma City law firm will generally have lawyers in many different specialty areas, and will have at least as many staff as attorneys. Here are some indications that you may want to look primarily at big Oklahoma City law firms to represent you:
ñ You aren't seeking representation for yourself, but rather for a corporation. Corporate clients are often better served by large Oklahoma City law firms, because larger firms offer more lawyers in more specialty areas and have more experience representing corporate clients.
ñ You want your Oklahoma City law firm to have a more formal atmosphere where a high level of businesslike decorum is expected in all lawyer-client interactions.
ñ You anticipate needing lawyers on a routine basis. If you are looking for Oklahoma City law firms that can represent you in a wide variety of legal matters, a large law firm may be your best option.
Not everybody wants (or needs) a big Oklahoma City law firm to represent them. Their prices can be extraordinarily high for the average legal client (a partner at large Oklahoma City law firms can charge $500 an hour or more), and most do not generally deal with a lot of individual clients—especially those looking for representation for the first time. If the bullet points above seem like a far cry from what you were hoping for, you may want a smaller Oklahoma City law firm.
Small and Mid-Sized Firms
If large Oklahoma City law firms sound like a bad fit for you or your case, smaller firms may be the solution. One of the biggest reasons that people elect to hire a small Oklahoma City law firm is cost: not only are small firm lawyers' hourly rates substantially lower, they also are substantially more likely to offer alternative fee arrangements.
You may be able to have a low flat fee assessed for all your legal services if you are being represented for common issues like bankruptcy, divorce, or DUI, or you may be able to pay a small Oklahoma City law firm in installments rather than all at once. However, you may need to shop around for the small Oklahoma City law firms that will offer you the best deals.
If you are looking for a small Oklahoma City law firm, you may want to ask friends and relatives for advice. Often, a word-of-mouth recommendation from someone you know can help you to choose a firm that would work well with your personality and preferences.
General Practice Law Firms
Deciding on the size of your Oklahoma City law firm will help you narrow your choices considerably, but in order to narrow the field even further, you should ask yourself if you want to use a generalist or a specialist law firm. General practice Oklahoma City law firms accept clients with a very wide range of legal concerns and problems, and turn very few cases away.
While general practice law firms are not nearly as common as they once were, they still offer a valuable range of services, particularly for clients who expect to require legal services repeatedly. Instead of needing three different Oklahoma City law firms to handle a bankruptcy, a divorce, and a personal injury claim, a general practice Oklahoma City law firm can provide a “one stop shop” for all your legal needs.
Specialty Law Firms
If you only anticipate needing a lawyer for a single legal matter, the in-depth expertise of specialty firms may help you win your case. Oklahoma City law firms that specialize in just one or two areas of law often have lawyers with many years of experience handling cases similar to yours.
You can find a specialty Oklahoma City law firm for nearly any legal problem. Whether you're dealing with divorce, adoption, an employment dispute, bankruptcy, criminal charges, a tax audit, harassment or discrimination, a real estate deal, commercial or business disputes, or any other issue, there is likely to be a firm that specializes in dealing with similar cases.
Once you understand what type of specialist law firm you need to seek out, your search options will be considerably narrowed and you can make your final determination regarding which to hire by using websites, reviews, and in-person consultations.
