If you are preparing for a legal case, you may be tempted to handle everything yourself. After all, do you really need a trial attorney? If you are asking yourself this question, the answer is probably yes. Trial attorneys are specially trained to handle cases that come before a judge or jury and can help you with all aspects of your case. Before you hire one, consider these five things.

Do they think you have a case?

Determining whether or not you have a case is the first step. If you’re the one filing the lawsuit against someone else, a lawyer can tell you if he thinks it’s a good idea. If you are the one being sued, a reputable lawyer can walk you through the best and worst case scenarios. This is simply an educated opinion; however, it is important to remember that juries can reach many different results. A law firm can only tell you how they think it will turn out and cannot guarantee a specific result. If you are promised that your case will turn out a certain way, it is a sign that you may need to keep looking.

What is the specialty of the trial lawyer?

It is important to find a lawyer with the right experience. There are many different types of laws and it will do no good to hire someone with a personal injury specialty if you are looking for help settling a divorce or contesting a will. A reputable lawyer will tell you if her case is not part of her specialty and can direct you to someone else who can help you.

How many wins vs losses?

A win/loss record is definitely important. Many people may be embarrassed to ask potential trial attorneys about their track records, but don’t. A reputable lawyer will be happy to inform you about your history. A high winning record is a good indication that the firm isn’t taking cases it doesn’t think it can win, and a less successful track record means the firm is probably not picky about the cases it takes. You are most likely in good hands if your company has a successful track record.

cost

Cost can be an important factor when making a selection among trial attorneys. Will the firm work entirely on a contingency basis, meaning there is no upfront cost to you? Or will you have to pay a down payment and cover some of the costs of the case as it progresses? This is something you definitely want to discuss with a company before hiring them.

Communication

Before you hire someone, ask them about their communication style. How often should you expect to be updated on your suit? Will you need to go after your trial attorney to find out what’s going on? Communication between the law firm and the client is important and you should never feel like you are bothering the firm if you are looking for an update.

Interviewing trial attorneys should not be a difficult process. Ask plenty of questions before you sign a contract, and in the end, you can be sure you’ve made the right choice.