How Do I Get a Lawyer for My Roundup Lawsuit?

If you're thinking about filing a lawsuit over health problems linked to Roundup or another weed-killing product, having the right attorney can make a big difference in getting a favorable outcome. Lawyers who specialize in toxic tort or product liability cases involving Roundup and similar products represent plaintiffs, meaning people who have developed a health problem like non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in connection with the use of an unsafe product. The manufacturers and retailers of these products are typically large corporations with (big and expensive) legal teams to defend them in court, so having a seasoned lawyer on your side is critical. But what should you look for, and what do you need to know about the attorney-client relationship in cases like these?

Where to Start

Online resources are a great way to put together an initial list of candidates you might want to get in touch with when you're looking for an attorney to handle your Roundup lawsuit. You can start your search right here at All-Law.com. Remember, you're not just looking for someone who has experience handling lawsuits like yours; you're also looking for someone you can trust and who you feel comfortable with. Learn more about how to find the right lawyer for a personal injury case.

What to Ask Candidate Lawyers

Whether you talk to a lawyer in person, over the phone, or via online chat, here are some topics you might want to touch on.

• How long has the lawyer been in practice?
• Roughly what percentage of the lawyer's practice involves personal injury cases? Toxic tort cases? Roundup lawsuits?
• Does the lawyer most often represent plaintiffs or defendants? You probably don't want to be represented by someone who has experience with personal injury cases but who has primarily been a lawyer for defendants. Advocating for plaintiffs who have been hurt is much different from helping a client avoid liability at all costs.
• Would the lawyer personally handle your case or pass it along to another—perhaps less experienced—lawyer in the office? It's normal for more than one attorney in an office to work on the same case, and to have less experienced attorneys (or paralegals and others) handle routine tasks. Find out who would have primary responsibility for your case and who you would be dealing with directly.

Remember to consider any special needs you might have, and a few important practicalities. For example, could you benefit from an attorney who speaks a language other than English? Is the lawyer's office close to public transportation, if that's how you travel? Unless there are special circumstances, you'll want to hire a lawyer with a local office, so make sure the firm is relatively close by. Check out more questions to ask a potential personal injury attorney.

Money Matters and More

Chances are you'll be able to hire a lawyer who will handle your Roundup lawsuit on a "contingency fee" basis. This means if you reach an out-of-court settlement, or your Roundup lawsuit goes all the way to trial and you receive a judgment in your favor, your lawyer will be paid a percentage of what you receive—usually around one-third of the total. If you don't receive anything from the other side, your lawyer doesn't get paid. It's important to read the fine print of any attorney-client contract before you sign it, and understand that you still might be on the hook for "costs" associated with your case (which are different from legal fees). Get the details on lawyer fees in personal injury cases.

Even if you think you have a good case, be prepared for a lawyer to turn down the opportunity to represent you. Many lawyers do not take cases if they fall below a certain potential recovery amount, or if a key element is less than clear. Maybe you haven't received a diagnosis of non-Hodkin's lymphoma or any other health problem, for example. Learn why a diagnosis is often crucial in a Roundup case.