You may have seen the New York Times article yesterday about lawyers who overbill their clients. We saw it, too, and it raises some great questions about hiring and working with attorneys of all kinds.

We believe in improving the legal services experience, no matter what kind of legal services you are looking for. That’s why we compiled this list of “do’s and don’ts” for hiring an attorney.

  • Do your research ahead of time. In the internet age, there is plenty of information available online about most businesses; take a few minutes to Google the attorney you’re interested in working with. Ask for referrals or testimonials. A good attorney doesn’t have anything to hide from you.
  • Don’t forget to get a written agreement about the nature and terms of the attorney’s work. Some dishonest attorneys will not disclose to you exactly what they will be working on with your case; this allows them to spend time on unnecessary projects, and bill you for it.
  • Do ask for an estimate of the fees you will owe. An attorney who specializes in the area of law you are looking for will probably have a grasp of what you will be paying; but keep in mind that sometimes unexpected issues come up in the legal environment. Your attorney isn’t able to predict what these things might be, but they will need to bill you for their time. Since we at VISANOW have a transparent online platform, our clients pay a flat rate for most case types; this eliminates the need for extra charges, regardless of how complex the case gets.
  • Don’t be afraid to review your monthly bills or invoices. If your attorney is billing you for something you don’t understand, ask for clarification. An honest attorney won’t mind explaining the items on your bill, or correcting a mistake that they overlooked.
  • Do take the initiative to look for a new attorney if necessary. If you aren’t happy with your law firm or continue to have unresolved billing issues, it may be time to move on and find an attorney who is easier for you to work with.
  • Don’t believe the lowest bidder. We’ve all heard the adage, “you get what you pay for” – and the same is true with legal services. If an attorney gives you a cost estimate that seems far too low, ask yourself a few questions: is this a reputable firm, or a novice attorney taking any work they can get? Does this estimate include everything that my case will require, or will I get hit with add-on fees and extra billable hours?
  • Do tell others about your experience with your attorney. If you had a great experience, post about it on an online review site, or tell your friends and family. If you had a negative experience, take a few minutes to let others know what the red flags are. Most legal  professionals appreciate the opportunity to improve their services, so be sure to let them know what your experience was like.

Do you have any other do’s and don’ts to add to the list? Let us know in the comments, or connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.