Legal matters can arise for any number of foreseen and unforeseen reasons. Car accidents and work injuries, business dealings and contracts, debt and money problems, family issues, immigration problems, criminal charges - the list goes on. Often, you can handle minor legal issues without professional help, but when you're unsure of your rights under the law, or the best solution for a given legal problem, you may need professional help.
There are literally thousands of subspecialties of lawyers, but most fall into a smaller number of areas of practice. The following types of lawyers can be found on AllLaw.com:
When you’ve been injured by another person or business.
Most Common Types
Other Types
For business owners and investors.
Most Common Types
If you’ve been accused or charged with a crime.
Most Common Types
Other Types
When you need help dealing with debt.
Most Common Types
If you’ve become injured or disabled, and can no longer work.
Most Common Types
Other Types
If you’re an employee or employer with a legal problem related to a job.
Most Common Types
Other Types
When you need to prepare an estate plan, need help with inheritance issues, or need to administer an estate after someone has died.
Most Common Types
Everything related to family, from marriage to divorce.
Most Common
Other Types
When you or someone you are trying to help needs to get into (temporarily or permanently) the United States.
Most Common Types
Other Types
If you’ve invented something or are making music or other entertainment related products.
Most Common Types
These are broad categories of lawyers who can help with many everyday issues that don’t fit into the other types.
Main Types
If it’s related to property you own or lease, these are the lawyers to call.
Main Types
What Should Be in Your Lawyers' Fee Agreement - If you're hiring a lawyer, make sure you have a clear, written fee agreement that spells out the cost of legal representation, related expenses, and the work to be done.
A good place to start is by contacting an experienced attorney in your community. While many attorneys specialize in a certain area of law, like personal injury or intellectual property, there are many attorneys who offer a full spectrum of services to provide aid to individuals who need help facing all sorts of legal issues that arise in life. These attorneys are called general practice lawyers.
General practice lawyers are a good source of information for people that have never had any legal disputes before or people that don't know exactly what kind of lawyer would be best for their needs. These lawyers have a broad range of knowledge on a number of topics and are generally able to provide clients with the advice they need to make prudent decisions about how to deal with the legal matter at hand.
To find an attorney for your legal needs, a good place to start is with the state Bar Association and online attorney directories like Nolo. If you are not sure what kind of attorney you need, start by contacting a general practice attorney.
Once you have a list of potential lawyers, call each one. During your phone call, make sure you explain your situation and ask if the attorney handles cases like yours. If the attorney does not handle cases like yours, ask for a recommendation for an attorney who can help you.
When you talk to each attorney, make sure you not only know that they are capable of handling your case, but understand the attorney's fees. Also, ask for references from former clients, find out where the attorney attended law school, consider how many years of experience the attorney has and check with the Better Business Bureau or state Bar Association to see if any ethics complaints have been filed against the attorney.
As with any decision you have to make in life, make sure you have a good feeling about the lawyer that you choose to work with. You may be working with this individual for quite some time; therefore, it is important to be comfortable with his or her communication style or demeanor.
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