Working with a Pennsylvania law firm is advantageous for a number of reasons when navigating a number of legal issues in the state. The Pennsylvania law firm will be knowledgeable about factors, state laws and other issues that should affect the outcome of this case. There are numerous options for reliable Pennsylvania law firms, especially in the big cities, so you will need to research your legal matter thoroughly and assess your options before committing to any Pennsylvania law firm. Diligence on your part will ensure that you not only have a positive relationship with the Pennsylvania law firm, but also that you avoid them complications that stem from a poor legal relationship.
Importance of consultations
Free consultations, when offered, are excellent resources to determine if a Pennsylvania law firm is right for you. Not all law firms offer free consultations and the availability depends heavily on the type of legal matter. Free consultations are most common for litigation matters while most other matters that require verification of documents, contracts and other agreements will be simple, fee based arrangements. Even low cost consultations should be considered, as the cost of consultations with multiple Pennsylvania law firms will be much more worthwhile than choosing a Pennsylvania law firm that does not suit your needs and gives you an unsatisfactory result.
When you are in a consultation, know that you will have a limited time to work with the Pennsylvania law firm to determine the cost of the legal service you seek, who the Pennsylvania law firm intends to approach your legal matter, the relationship you will have with the firm and your obligations to the firm. Economize on time and ensure that you are through and honest about every facet of the legal matter. Giving the most objective view on the situation as you can is critical to ensuring that that the Pennsylvania law firm understands your needs and can work to meet them accordingly.
You should never accept a fee arrangement or legal services without first having a consultation and being given time to consider the merits of pursuing legal action. If necessary, consult with multiple Pennsylvania law firms in the area to search for competitive rates or a lawyer you feel comfortable working with.
It is also important to note that in many cases, another party cannot use a Pennsylvania law firm that you have consulted with on legal issues, as this may construe a conflict of interest.
Values to look for in the Pennsylvania law firm.
You will want objectivity above all else when dealing with your legal matter. This is in no small part due to the fact that especially in adversarial legal matters, the other party will attempt to discredit your argument. It is best for your potential legal representation to discredit and eliminate parts of your case in order to strengthen its legitimacy in court. This also helps to anticipate any potential pitfalls that you have not anticipated. An objective observer is always useful for these types of situations.
Role of the Pennsylvania Bar in determining good legal representation.
Bar associations help to improve the practice of law and strengthen professional links about legal professionals. Membership in the Pennsylvania Bar Association is a voluntary, but provides a number of benefits, in addition to its own code of professionalism and ethics, which is a prerequisite for membership. Clients of lawyers in the Pennsylvania Bar will benefit from both these standards as well as benefits provided to member lawyers organize their cases. This includes access to law and document databases, publications on legal developments and issues in the state.
Since bar association membership in voluntary, expect local bar associations to also be active, in cities and counties alike. Every bar association has similar goals, but each will offer different services, including some that will have their own lawyer referral services. Contact the local bar associations, if possible, for more information and guidance on choosing a Pennsylvania law firm.
How to find a Pennsylvania law firm
Aside from interest searching and advertising, you may use lawyer referral service to find a Pennsylvania law firm. None of these items should be used to make a final determination on if you should select this law firm as your legal representation. These will only serve as possible leads when evaluating other law firms. The Pennsylvania Bar offers a lawyer referral service that charges $30 for a 30 minute consultation, $15 of which goes to the law firm to cover the cost of the consultation. The fee is only $15 when the law firm you are referred to does not charge for consultations. There is no obligation to follow up on the consultation, but the Pennsylvania law firm must agree to hear your case.
What will I pay for the services of a Pennsylvania law firm?
Factors that determine the cost of legal services include the length of time needed to resolve the matter, the type of legal action needed and the location where the Pennsylvania law firm. Individual attorneys may charge higher fees for experience, multiple services available from the Pennsylvania law firm and the nature of the legal matter. Some can be persuaded to charge less low needs-based legal action, although this is very uncommon.
Contingency fees are the cheapest arrangement for the client, as they require no upfront fees and will be deducted from the results of the legal action. This leads to a substantial award for the lawyer, who can collect up a third of the award in some situations. The percentage collected depends heavily on the laws of the state, court review for fairness to the client and if the matter is resolved in settlement or at trial.
Depending on the nature of Pennsylvania law firm’s policies for billing, you may have to set up a retainer account. This enables you to refill a billable trust account to cover the cost of services provided by the Pennsylvania law firm on your behalf.
