Lawyers map
>3.7k
experienced lawyers
Filter by
22 Feb, 2024 by Melissa kunaschk
*Friend is now in jail because of Dircks* = Friend went to court date on 2/16/24 and Dircks NEVER showed up!! Friend is now serving on a Violation of Probation that my friend already served for his OWI and case was dismissed on 1/19/24. If Dircks had ACTUALLY shown up, my friend wouldn't have been put in jail!!
Read more
07 Aug, 2023 by Gayann wright
Lost a will
Read more
01 May, 2021 by All creatures
Never return calls
Read more
31 Mar, 2022 by Anonymous
Unprofessional, yells at her kids while on the phone, stopped responding to calls or emails, didn’t get me anything additional and charged me thousands, missed deadlines, didn’t fight for me at all, she is the worst attorney I’ve worked with. I wish I would have seen these 1 star reviews before I called her.
Read more
08 Sep, 2021 by Anonymous
. Agree with other reviews. She’s odd and not professional. Doesn’t follow norms on f profession. Not trustworthy. Waste of time. Do not use.
Read more
29 Jun, 2021 by Anonymous
Some of these shysters chase ambulances, this one chases bad employees to harass, defame and do battle with legitimate business owners, trying to squeeze $$$ out them to compensate worthless employees that either got termininated or quite
Read more
23 Apr, 2022 by Anonymous
Didn't do his research as to whom owed a debt and decided to get a judgement against me in 2010 while I was deployed to Iraq. Had he done his job, his firm would have figured out it was the wrong brother he got a judgement against. When I returned from overseas and found out I had a judgement against me and an income withholding order sent to my civilian employer, I called his office to inform them they had taken the wrong brother to court, their response was, " a judgement was issued and there was nothing they could do." I had to get the State Attorney General Office involved to fix this mess. Had these clowns done their job and researched whom they were suppose to be suing, they would have figured out they had the wrong person.
Read more
13 Aug, 2013 by Scott
I had an outstanding debt which Litow went and got a judgement against me for. I went to pay my property taxes, which the check bounced because Litow had Dallas County take the money right out of my checking account. Over $ 1,200 removed without any kind of notice. So if this man gets a judgement against you, better clean out your accounts or he will.
Read more
18 Jul, 2013 by Anonymous
If you ever receive a letter from this attorney, please be advise and find yourself an attorney and remember to follow up with them even after the case is close. In mine experience, Charles Litow had decided to take me to court twice for the same case which is a not a good thing. So please, please, take my advice and find yourself a lawyer.
Read more
06 Aug, 2021 by Anonymous
Horrendous experience. She seems to hate all parents, completely lacks objectivity and makes wild, unfounded accusations. She has an awful reputation amongst law professionals and clinicians. Awful experience from start to finish in court and all staffing meetings.
Read more
24 Nov, 2020 by Megan
I wish there was a choice for 0 stars. She is the most unprofessional and nasty excuse for a human being out there. She has no interest in her clients and has yet to contact her current client. He needs serious help, but all she does is bash and get nasty with you when you try the best for your child. She is the first to tell you that you are a horrible parent when she doesn’t even know you! I can’t stress enough do not have her as your child’s lawyer! She must have got her degree from a Cracker Jack box. Wrong profession for her!
Read more
28 Feb, 2013 by Anonymous
THE Most unethical and unprofessional lawyer and person on the planet. She never spoke to me. SHe did not have the best interest of her clients. Relied heavily on dubious expert witness. Including that mismanaged the office and practice. SHe has tempertantums in the court Room.
Read more
03 Sep, 2021 by Cliff
I spent time filling out my online statement being as specific as possible foolishly expecting someone might actually read my comments and get back to me. When no return telephone call after several days I called the office and was told she has been very busy and will give me a call later. Patiently waiting I called back a day or so later just trying to verify my email was received since I only had so many days to answer a summons and file a reply. The person answering the phone after some conversation told me they were not taking on any new clients at this time. Very, very unimpressed with this office!! Never had an opportunity to consult!
Read more
18 Dec, 2016 by Anonymous
At first was aggressive with case after collecting Huge upfront costs. Became less agressive and interested in case. I feel she was squeezing us for every penny she could get and included another lawyer Michele Lewon in on her money grab. We told her we couldn't afford her fees with no results any more and she sent a a request to the judge to be released from our case stating irreconcilable difference when we already told her we were not continuing our service with her.
Read more
13 Oct, 2016 by Anonymous
Explained that we had a pretty clear cut case in the beginning.
Then half way through said we might not win. Then I stated we need to be more aggressive with our case because we are losing. I asked if she would be willing to do that and she resigned from my case.
Read more
11 Mar, 2014 by Tom
He not only ran up 4x the bills he should have. He did not accomplish anything for my daughter. He did suceed in haveing a judgment against my daughter for 16 k. Has harrassed our family and we had to spend 5k fixing the mess he made.
Read more
23 Feb, 2013 by Terry
Could only listen to his side.I was always wrong in his eyes.Never felt I could talk to him,because I would be wrong in anything I said anyways. And if I did talk to explain my thought or feelings about my case,he would blow up and would use rude word at me.
I don't deserve that...I don't want anyone else to have a Attorney that you respect to talk to you,to help you and listen,and treat you like this. I was always truthful with him,and he does this to me. I went to him for help and to trust to help me...but I was afraid of him,each time I had to go talk with him,I would be treated the same.
Read more
25 Nov, 2022 by Anonymous
I WAS LOOKING FOR A ATTORNEY AND CAME ACROSS SHEETS,MY WIFE HIRED THIS GUY BEFOR SHE PASSED AWAY,AND SHE SAID HE WAS A LOUSY ATTORNEY....
Read more
14 Nov, 2019 by Stephanie
Contacted James Sheets in 2018 because I was having a landlord tenant dispute, i met him we talked signed a agreement I gave him a 1000.00 flat fee I was originally asking for 1200.00 for damages and unpaid rent, James SUGGESTED we make her pay rent until her lease expire which was december 2018,he filed it call me said we had to meet befor court we did I showed him a box of evidence that we needed for court I had 4 copies...to make it short James allowed the tenant to lie under oath and when I nudged him that she was lieing I had evidence in tex messages James refuse to pick up my evidence and submit it to the court, instead he told me to shhhhh he cant hear me and them at the same time this man turned a simple case into a night mare and refused to take responsibility for his misrepresentation...James didnt know what to do after we lost so he found me another attorney which cost me more money for a appeal we lost the appeal because they wouldnt allow the evidence that james was suppose to submit at the first court hearing into evidence and now I have a 8000.00 judgement on me and 4000.00 outta pocket, James refuse to take responsibility for his misrepresentations
Read more
22 Sep, 2017 by Anonymous
Anthony Gericke was a court appointed attorney for me after my arrest in the Winneshiek county.
I was not represented properly by this attorney and I felt like I did most of the wormost l gathering evidence in my case against 3 officers that wrongfully arrested me. A dash camera in the cups vehicle was withheld from evidence even with it I had eyewitnesses of my arrest that stew never connected by my attorney for whatever reason despite being told numerous times and given context information.
My case is still in the axial process all of the evidence that I have that was not admitted for whatever reason can only be added of my appeal fails.
Overall I would not recommend this attorney even if he is court appointed, you can likely manage better on your own.
He is so very difficult to contact and when you do end up meeting with him it is a complete waste of time.
Read more
21 Sep, 2013 by Anonymous
Gericke law office is a general practice law firm located in Postville, IA. My business goal is to provide a broad range of legal services to a wide range of clients, including both businesses and individuals, throughout the greater northeast Iowa area. If you need a lawyer for the formation of a will, negotiating a lease or contract, litigating a breach of contract, income tax preparation or any other legal matter I will act on your behalf, aggressively and competently, to get you the results needed for future success.
I will act on your behalf, aggressively and competently, to get you the results needed for future success. (1. Properly or sufficiently qualified; capable)
i had him as a court appointed attorney for allamakee county Iowa and he did not even come close to acting aggressively and competently on my behalf like he claims he will on his website. he said he would send me copies of every thing he received from the court for my case and keep me in the loop with what was going on with my case on a regular basis but never did, he was also very difficult to get a hold of. (for example several voice-mails and emails sent and i wouldn't hear any thing from him for several weeks after those were left.)
Read more
23 Mar, 2021 by Diana
Mr. Hales is a terrible lawyer. I know a person who went to him and he didn't file their case within the first two years like he was supposed to. Plus, he has a record. You can look him up and he was arrested. His mug shot is listed.
Read more
27 Jul, 2021 by Anonymous
This is not the first time I've seen it they tried it with me now same thing to a friend
Read more
19 Dec, 2019 by Anonymous
Spoke with Bryan for a consultation. I told him about my case and he asked for some documentation and he would not be able to look at it for a few weeks. He didn’t offer any advice or even comment on my case. Then I made the mistake of telling him that I am talking to other attorneys and then he snapped. His demeanor completely changed. He told me to not send him anything, he doesn’t want to be involved if I’m talking to other attorneys, his time is so precious that I would be wasting his time, he doesn’t need to beg for my business and he’s so busy he wouldn’t have any time to take on more cases anyways, etc. Then I said that another attorney told me to talk to as many attorneys as possible and Bryan replies, “yes you should, but not me”. Make sure you DO NOT say you are talking to other attorneys because if you have a consult with Bryan apparently that means that you are basically hiring him without him even looking at your case. I would be very cautious with him because I assume he would charge you for every second of his “precious” time.
Read more
03 Nov, 2014 by Elizabeth
He was doing work on a simple will for a family member who passed away.Several times I and other beneficiaries called him to see if he could answer our questions,never called us back.he was always out of town. When he was in town,he was too busy? We never knew what was going on ever.It took him a year and ahalf to finish a will.My understanding they shouldn't take more than a year.my relative who passed wasn't a millionaire,there couldn't have been much work involved in this,and if there was we wouldn't know because of no communication!
Read more
07 Jun, 2022 by Nick
He was my public defender in Cedar County. The case was simple; probation violation. All I have to do is pay my fine and show up for court. He simply repeated a line that he probably spits out to all of his clients "Pay as much as you can". I do not need a certified legal professional to tell me to pay my bills. Other than this all he did was call me a few days before court and make sure I was going to be there. I expressed my grievances to him and the court, he decided to withdraw from my case stating he was "wasting his time". Thank You Mr. Public Pretender!
Read more
29 Sep, 2019 by Anonymous
This attorney did not listen to our needs. He did not file things in a timely manner, so they were not accepted in court. Kaiser was not honest with the options that we had regarding trial or motions that could have been filed. He required us to do his work (ex. phone calls regarding the case, gathering information for exhibits, doing his Bate's stamping, photocopying, purchasing his office supplies etc.) He not only lost our lawsuit that was a 100% sure win, (we filed to recover from an employee who was fired for embezzling for a number of years) Kaiser turned it into us losing our company, home, property, financial assets & retirement. We are in the process of going after him for misrepresentation. Kaiser told us one thing and did the complete opposite on at least a half dozen occasions without ever presenting it to us what he was doing in court. Then he tried to have his actions sealed in court so we couldn't discover it. Our trial never went to trial because he told us it was thrown out 15 minutes before the trial was to begin, which we found out later was not true. This whole process was dragged out over a 3 year period. He made grave mistakes that cost us everything and we have proof of every wrongdoing he made. Read this and run.
Read more
15 Aug, 2015 by Elizabeth
This attorney threatened me, told me that a mediation in a landlord tenant matter was NOT BINDING (Exact words - I said that the mediator said if you are not out by x, you will appear in court Monday and the eviction will be ordered - will it be ordered or will we have an eviction hearing like we were supposed to today? what exactly happens if I cannot meet the agreement? Her response - which I recorded - 'The landlord has to serve you again and start the whole process over' NO - that is NOT what occurs, you are bound by that agreement. This attorney took the simplest matter possible - an eviction where there was no grounds either technically as regards appropriate paperwork or on merit, did not ask for a dismissal on 3 days not having been given or 7 days asking tenant to fix issue prior to 3 day notice to leave, told me as her client once we were in mediation that I 'could not possibly want to stay there' that I needed to agree to move and get on with my life (again NOT what we agreed I was there for) did not even get a copy of the notice the hearing was based on (since only 2 days went by between the post office certified card arriving and being served the eviction court date I did not have it, but she did not call the opposing attorney to get it), threatened me by telling me if I did NOT accept mediation - because I spoke in mediation when she did not start as agreed saying we simply needed to get in front of the judge for dismissal and that angered her (if she had done her job I would not have needed to speak), she would not represent me in front of the judge, I'd be on my own. Though I knew that there was not even time for legal service, judges have been known to do as they like and get into the merits, she had the file and had organized it, I did not even have the notice to know what - exactly - I was fighting because there wasn't anything I'd done so I didn't know what lie the landlord had made up on the paperwork, and having been told it was not binding, I signed it to get out of there with the intent of appearing to have the eviction hearing on the named date. I am stuck. Further, she signed the agreement allowing wording that was wrong - the landlord was to be bound to leave on the AC (he liked to take away parts so it didn't work and it got to be 95 degrees in the rental) and she allowed them to write the thermostat will be kept at 70 - since it was not exact the landlord IS WITHIN HIS RIGHTS TO SET IT TO 70 BUT LET IT BLOW OUT HOT AIR INSTEAD OF FIXING IT. So I am in 90-95 degree heat and supposed to pack and move with medical issues in that heat. They were to get me a check by that Friday. She let the mediator write that they would pay "By 8/17' - that is the day after I have to be out! Then she told me it was my own fault and not to blame her because I got a bad landlord! Do not ever ever ever use this attorney. Oh, and she likes to play games with what she will charge - Example: We had to spend a Sunday putting together the file of everything illegal this landlord had been doing, really for future litigation against him but also incase we needed some of it in eviction court - and I told her I had a ton of things to print. I was very clear She said well print them here, I do not charge for ink. She then said as we were doing it well I will have to charge for this this is a lot. She assessed it at 200.00. After getting me stuck wtih having to move when I did nothing wrong and had a 6 month lease and cannot get the lawyer to turn the money over, she insists she did nothing wrong in telling me the mediation was not binding or not carefully watching the agreement wording before signing and that she tried to help.
Read more
05 Apr, 2017 by Anonymous
I hired Christopher Farwell for my divorce and 1 year later I clearly see how much I got screwed. Christopher is extremely overpriced for his services. I payed $8,000+ to get a divorce decree where my ex got everything he wanted. I just want to mention my ex self represented himself and payed nothing since he didn't hire a lawyer. Also, my ex is not a US citizen. If someone from another country that has no knowledge of US laws and used google for legal advice can do a better job than a lawyer there is clearly something wrong. I can't even sleep at night one year later thinking about how Chris Farwell took thousands and thousands of dollars of my money, but did nothing for me. My ex and I got divorced with a child involved. My ex gets the dependency exemption for taxes every year, which I now know is extremely rare and uncommon; I somehow lost this battle in the divorce. My ex got an extreme amount of visitation that he argued about until he got his way ( 1 year later he doesn't even use this visitation at all). Like I said earlier my ex is not a US citizen.... Chris Farwell somehow couldn't even stop the judge from deciding that my child could leave the U.S. with my ex after my ex threatened me he was going to leave the country with my child and that we wouldn't see each other ever again. Also, I learned Chris Farwell is one of the most expensive lawyers in the area. If I could give advice I would say please don't let happen to you what happened to me. Chris Farwell is lazy and doesn't put as much effort into a case for the price he charges. He charges $200 an hour and I wouldn't even pay $10 an hour for the service that I got. There were tons of red flags during the whole process, but I was emotional from getting divorced that I overlooked them because I was scared. I highly regret not switching lawyers in the middle of this process. 1 year later I am still struggling with dealing with my ex. My ex and I jointly own a property together and Chris took my exes word that my ex couldn't get the house refinanced into his own name (which was a lie). The agreement in the divorce was that the house be sold. Now 1 year later my ex doesn't have the house for sale anymore and is renting out the house making a profit off the house while it is still in my name! I've told my ex for months that his 1 year is over and my name needs to be off the house and my ex refuses to refinance the house in his own name. I even took the extra step and found a bank that will most likely refinance the house loan in only my exes name with a lower interest rate! My ex still won't get the house in only his name!!! 1 year later I am now set up by Chris Farwell to go back to court to deal with all the things Chris started, but couldn't finish.
Read more
22 Sep, 2017 by Anonymous
I hired Jim Hayes to represent my son. He was a family friend. My 5 year old son was prescribed too much of a medication and ended up hospitalized. This firm never listened to what our complaint was. They went with a completely different angle that was not part of our complaint. It was dismissed with prejudice. Jim Hayes has been overtly rude to me since. The doctor is now in prison for Medicaid fraud fraud. You decide if he and his firm are decent judges of character.
Read more
15 Mar, 2023 by Anonymous
CeCe Ibson is the worst attorney I have ever come across. I filed a complaint against CeCe Ibson where she lied often, but one shocking aspect of her responce was that she said she is allowed to discriminate because she is a sole proprietorship. She charged me $250 dollars for a three sentence email to which she never got a reply. CeCe Ibson inserted false claims into a final settlement agreement and she said if I didn't sign the fraudulent document, she would have me committed. She was my attorney, but there is no evidence she ever represented me.
Read more
28 Jan, 2023 by Anonymous
Will take your money and not do his job. Still owes us money and itemized invoices and won't provide either.
Read more
09 Feb, 2021 by Jimmy
James p Hoffman, he is having my work comp checks coming to him after telling me that they stopped and I'm not clear to go back to work yet and he's not right
Read more
02 Nov, 2021 by Anonymous
Hired for a personal injury case. I had two qualified doctors willing to testify my injuries were in fact caused by my accident. Greg made me feel he was not on my side. I suffered months of physical therapy, 2 surgeries, both followed by more physical therapy. I would not recommend him, he isn't going to make you feel confident in what you deserve.
Read more
27 Sep, 2011 by Bob
Worst service ever. kept stringing me along. never filed motions or decrees when he said he did. My opinion is he doesn't care about his clients.
Read more
25 Feb, 2017 by Anonymous
Court dates continually rescheduled. Took over 18 months before we saw the inside of a court house for divorce and custody hearing. Deck seemed sympathetic and intested but when it came to taking any kind of action he did little to nothing or was not prepared! Attorneys like this will continue to take your money, blow smoke up your rear and leave you discouraged in the system as long as people do not make complaints or report the attorneys poor representation!
Read more
06 Feb, 2023 by Anonymous
The only time he pays attention to you is right before you have court. During any court proceedings he ignores anything you wish to bring up and acts like you haven’t said anything. He is a yes man for the other side. He does not follow through even if he tells you he will. He must be over loaded with cases because he seems to not have time to actually care about your case. He has no business practicing in family law. And it may just be time for him to hang it up.
Read more
07 Apr, 2023 by Troy
I contacted Mr. Thatcher, my mother's attorney, at her request, she had been transferred to hospice and wanted to make changes to her will. Mr. Thatcher said he would get her file together and contact her, never did and about a week later, she died leaving issues unresolved and adding greatly to stress and pain of losing my mother.
Read more
18 Jul, 2017 by Anonymous
This man is terrible, never met the guy until the day of court and the only reason I found out who he was before court is because the judge in the previous case mentioned he was there lawyer. Also, he will charge you for every phone call you make to him, every call he makes on your behalf. Every letter he sends out on your behalf. Every document he files and reaffirmation agreements. I reaffirmed with three creditors and he sent the paperwork to me to sign. I signed them and took them to his office and what happened to them after that I have no idea. Two of the creditors said they never received them and one creditor filed the agreement themselves. I received a bill from this guy for 681.00 for this. And that's on top of the 1650.00 I already paid him. I have not paid it. We call down there and they say that they did every thing on their end and that I still owe them. My Mortgage is still in bankruptcy "limbo" because they never received the reaffirmation. I have still made my mortgage payment, but according to their records I am still in bankruptcy. My discharge date was in November of 2016 and I'm still dealing with it. BEWARE
Read more
09 Jun, 2018 by Robert
We restained Mrs. McKenzie to help us with a eviction matter. She lied, did not file the complaint as promised and lied again. Stay away. Didn’t even care when I was firing her. Could care less. No ethics.
Read more
04 Mar, 2015 by Anonymous
From day one it seemed like all this attorney was worried about was her compensation $$. The case that we hired her for was supposed to be a "simple" case according to her, but when the process took too long and we saw no further developments. We attempted to reach out to her only to get a negative response back. On top of that she made sure that any Text, Email, or Call we made to her was charged per minute! no matter how simple the question was or even if we wanted to know updates on the immigration case. Also, she was never prepared during our hearings in front of the immigration judge there were times that the judge would ask her for certain documents and she would come up with a reason as to why she did not have that document even though she had plenty of time to prepare. Needless to say the verdict was not in our favor and our family member was sentenced to deportation.
Read more
04 Jul, 2014 by Anonymous
As a former client I was extemely unhappy with this attorney. This attorney was never there for me and was very immature when I had questions. I would never recommend this so called lawyer. When the case did not settle fast for big money Carlson was through with it.
Read more
20 Oct, 2021 by Anonymous
She is a terrible family law attorney, needs to learn to fight for her clients.
Read more
Browse lawyers
Cities in Iowa - Find a Lawyer Near Me
-
Des Moines
-
Cedar Rapids
-
West Des Moines
-
Sioux City
-
Davenport
-
Iowa City
-
Council Bluffs
-
Dubuque
-
Waterloo
-
Ames
-
Cedar Falls
-
Burlington
-
Johnston
-
Ankeny
-
Urbandale
-
Bettendorf
-
Mason City
-
Clive
-
Marshalltown
-
Muscatine
-
Coralville
-
Ottumwa
-
Spirit Lake
-
Carroll
-
Decorah
-
Fairfield
-
Fort Dodge
-
Newton
-
Waukee
-
Spencer
-
Algona
-
Clinton
-
Washington
-
Boone
-
Storm Lake
-
Adel
-
Marion
-
Nevada
-
Waverly
-
Denison
-
Fort Madison
-
Grinnell
-
Mount Pleasant
-
Sioux Center
-
Centerville
-
Cherokee
-
Glenwood
-
Harlan
-
INDEPENDENCE
-
Indianola
-
Perry
-
Charles City
-
Le Mars
-
North Liberty
-
Orange City
-
Altoona
-
Atlantic
-
Forest City
-
Huxley
-
Jefferson
-
Parkersburg
-
Grimes
-
Hiawatha
-
Milford
-
Osceola
-
Pella
-
Vinton
-
Chariton
-
Corydon
-
Creston
-
Estherville
-
Hampton
-
Humboldt
-
Iowa Falls
-
Maquoketa
-
New Hampton
-
Oskaloosa
-
Sibley
-
Williamsburg
-
Windsor Heights
-
Albia
-
Anamosa
-
Birmingham
-
Carter Lake
-
Dallas Center
-
De Witt
-
Denver
-
Garner
Browse lawyers
Practice Areas in Iowa
-
Business
-
Litigation
-
Family Law
-
Real Estate
-
Personal Injury
-
Estate Planning
-
Criminal Defense
-
Probate
-
Workers Compensation
-
Government
-
Tax
-
Appeals
-
Insurance
-
Civil Rights
-
Juvenile Law
-
Intellectual Property
-
Child Custody
-
Mediation
-
Medical Malpractice
-
Car Accident
-
Elder Law
-
Trusts
-
Debt Collection
-
Immigration
-
Consumer Protection
-
Social Security & Disability
-
Child Support
-
Adoption
-
Domestic Violence
-
Wrongful Death
-
Bankruptcy
-
Divorce
-
Lawsuit / Dispute
-
Discrimination
-
DUI / DWI
-
Financial Markets And Services
-
Foreclosure
-
Employment / Labor
-
Federal Crime
-
Sexual Harassment
-
Copyright Application
-
Cannabis Law
-
Sex Crime
-
Wrongful Termination
-
Class Action
-
Landlord & Tenant
-
Drug Crime
-
Entertainment
-
Debt Settlement
-
Life Insurance
Discover the ideal lawyer
You can search a lawyer by practice area, lawyer name, city, state, or ZIP code
FAQs
Questions? We have answers
Top Questions to Ask a Lawyer
When meeting with a lawyer for the first time, it's important to ask the right questions to understand their expertise and determine if they're the right fit for your legal needs. Here are some top questions to consider:
-
What experience do you have with cases similar to mine?
Ensure the lawyer has relevant experience in the specific area of law pertaining to your case. -
How do you charge for your services, and what are the estimated costs?
Understand the fee structure, including hourly rates, flat fees, retainer fees, and any additional expenses. -
What potential outcomes can I expect from my case?
While no lawyer can guarantee results, they can provide an assessment of possible scenarios based on their experience. -
What is your approach to handling cases like mine?
Learn about their strategy, whether they prefer negotiation, mediation, or litigation. -
Who will be working on my case?
Find out if the lawyer will handle your case personally or delegate tasks to other attorneys or paralegals. -
How will you communicate with me throughout the process?
Establish expectations for updates, preferred communication methods, and response times. -
What is the likely timeline for resolving my case?
Get an estimate of how long the process may take from start to finish. -
Do you have references from past clients?
Testimonials or references can provide insight into the lawyer's professionalism and effectiveness. -
What are the strengths and weaknesses of my case?
Understanding potential challenges helps you prepare and sets realistic expectations. -
Are there alternative ways to solve my legal problem?
Discuss options like mediation, arbitration, or settlement to resolve the issue efficiently.
How to Check the Credibility of a Lawyer
Before hiring a lawyer, it's crucial to verify their credibility and ensure they're qualified to handle your case:
-
Verify Their License:
Check with your state's bar association to confirm the lawyer is licensed and in good standing. -
Experience and Specialization:
Ensure the lawyer specializes in the area of law relevant to your case. -
Disciplinary Record:
Look up any history of disciplinary actions or complaints through the state bar association. -
Client Reviews and Testimonials:
Read reviews on legal directories like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to gauge client satisfaction. -
Professional Memberships:
Membership in professional organizations or specialty bar associations can indicate a commitment to their field. -
Awards and Recognitions:
Honors from reputable organizations reflect expertise and a positive reputation. -
Consultation Assessment:
Use the initial consultation to evaluate their communication skills, responsiveness, and willingness to address your concerns. -
Ask for References:
A credible lawyer should be willing to provide references from past clients.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most of your initial meeting with a lawyer, come prepared with:
-
Relevant Documents:
Bring all documents related to your case, such as contracts, correspondence, legal notices, court papers, or evidence. -
Written Summary:
Prepare a concise written summary of your situation, including key dates, events, and involved parties. -
List of Questions:
Write down any questions you have about your case, the legal process, or the lawyer's experience. -
Financial Information:
If applicable, bring financial documents like pay stubs, tax returns, or bank statements. -
Contact Information:
Provide details of any witnesses or other parties relevant to your case. -
Personal Identification:
Bring a valid ID for verification purposes. -
Pen and Notebook:
Take notes during the consultation to remember important points. -
Budget Constraints:
Be ready to discuss your budget and any financial limitations.
How Much Does a Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a lawyer varies widely based on several factors:
-
Fee Structures:
-
Hourly Rate:
Lawyers may charge anywhere from $150 to $500 or more per hour, depending on experience and location. -
Flat Fee:
For routine legal services like drafting a will or handling an uncontested divorce, lawyers might offer a flat fee. -
Retainer Fee:
An upfront payment against which the lawyer bills hourly fees. -
Contingency Fee:
Common in personal injury cases; the lawyer receives a percentage (typically 25% to 40%) of any settlement or award. -
Monthly Retainer:
For ongoing services, businesses might pay a monthly fee for a set number of hours or services.
-
Hourly Rate:
-
Factors Affecting Cost:
-
Complexity of the Case:
More complex cases require more time and resources, increasing costs. -
Lawyer's Experience:
Highly experienced lawyers may charge higher fees. -
Geographic Location:
Legal fees can vary significantly by region or city. -
Additional Expenses:
Court filing fees, expert witness fees, travel expenses, and administrative costs may be extra.
-
Complexity of the Case:
-
Estimating Total Costs:
Request a detailed fee agreement outlining all potential costs.
Discuss any additional expenses that may arise during the case. -
Negotiating Fees:
Some lawyers may be willing to negotiate fees or offer payment plans, especially for clients with financial constraints. -
Pro Bono Services:
For those who cannot afford legal services, some lawyers or legal aid organizations offer services at reduced rates or for free.
