Finding an appeals attorney can be a complicated task and would require you to consider a plethora of factors before making a decision. An attorney is someone who represents you in the court of law, which is why it is imperative to make an informed decision, especially when it comes down to an appeal attorney. Why the increased focus on appellate attorneys you might ask? Well, firstly, appellate attorneys represent cases that are generally not in the plaintiffs’ favor, which is why it requires an even greater consideration before choosing your appeal attorney. If you are wondering how to choose your appeals attorney, here are seven tips to help you make an informed decision:
- Licensed Attorney
Well, obviously, the first factor you need to consider is whether your attorney has a license. Even if they have one, you should also confirm if they are allowed to represent your case in the court of law. Signing up with an attorney and finding later that your case cannot be represented will only cause unnecessary delays in your appeal procedure.
- Effective communication skills
One of the most important traits an attorney needs to possess is effective communication skills. The attorney needs to explain the judge why your case needs favor. A piece of advice, always have a word with your attorney in detail. If he/she is unable to convince you, chances are they might not be able to convince the judge and the jury.
- Past record
Historical information about various practices and cases represented in the court of law will certainly help you understand your attorney’s background. An attorney with many cases on their career will definitely have a better exposure and understanding about how courts work. It also gives you the ability to reflect on their success rate to determine their capacity and ability to represent cases effectively.
- Trustworthy
For someone who represents your case in the court of law, you surely need to develop some sort of trust. You need to unfold a lot of information to your attorney and often, the information is personal. If your attorney is not trustworthy, it might result in an embarrassing situation. A piece of advice: seek for reviews from the market or trust your gut feeling about the attorney. If you feel that the attorney is not a trustworthy individual, chances are you are right.
- Experience with similar cases
Specialization is one critical factor when it comes to representing the case effectively and increasing the chances of winning. For example, if you have filed for a personal injury claim, but hire an attorney specialized in real estate cases, chances are that the attorney will not be able to represent your case as effectively.
- Understands your case
Before you decide to proceed with an attorney, ensure that they understand your case. You need to be clear about what your expectations are and what the attorney needs to push for. Do not leave it at the discretion of the attorney or assume they understand. Ask for their opinion and views explicitly. Since you are paying for the services, you have all the right to demand if they understand what they are representing. If you feel, your attorney is not competent enough to understand the objective of the case, it is best to look for another one.
- Transparent about fees
The judicial system has different fee structure that you may be unaware and usually the attorney needs to inform you about the various legal fees you need to cover. However, it is better to be transparent about the fees right from the start to avoid blowing your budget mid-trials.
