When involved in a civil lawsuit, it’s important to know all the facts. You should know all the details of your case, all the possible outcomes, what you want to end up with after it’s finished.
And, of course, you need to know all about your civil law attorney.
Fortunately, consultations exist for this exact reason. A consultation is a chance for you to ask a civil law attorney about everything you need to know. Asking the right questions will put you in a better place to tackle your lawsuit.
The problem comes, then, with knowing the right questions to ask a lawyer during a consultation.
You may be overwhelmed and confused when faced with a civil lawsuit. Maybe you don’t know where to start and have no idea what to ask your lawyer.
But don’t worry. We’re here to help. Keep reading here for a guide on what to ask a civil law attorney.
An Overview of Civil Law
First off, let’s talk about what civil law really is. Unlike criminal law, civil law focuses on legal disputes between two parties. There are no criminal charges involved.
Civil lawsuits can include:
- Personal injury cases
- Real estate issues
- Divorce matters
- Corporate/business matters
One thing to know if you’re involved with a civil lawsuit is that the court does not provide a lawyer for you. You need to hire one on your own. So, you should make sure that you know the right questions.
Here are the questions you need to ask a civil law attorney.
How Long Have You Practiced Law?
The experience of your civil law attorney plays into how they might handle your case. Asking this question is a good way for you to gauge their experience. If they keep getting hired, that’s a good sign.
The kind of cases that they’ve handled in the past doesn’t always matter. When it comes down to it, if they have experience in court and with filing lawsuits, that tends to work in your favor.
This is not to say that an attorney straight out of law school isn’t going to handle your case well. Someone has to be the first, after all. But depending on the seriousness of your case, their experience may make a difference to you.
Who Are Some of Your Past Clients?
Again, the experience of your lawyer may matter. Knowing your attorney’s previous clientele will help you get a better understanding of their specializations and their skillset.
Their past clientele might also make a difference in how they approach your case. For example, let’s say you’re a small publishing business involved in a copyright case. They may have handled a similar case before, but their client may have been a large corporation with different needs and demands.
Who Will Be Involved in Handling My Case?
As lawsuits often involve sensitive information, you’ll want to know who will have access to your personal information and how it will be used. It’s a good idea to be in the know.
You should also be familiar with the lawyer’s team. You’ll want to know how many other people are involved with your case and who they are. This will help you with communication and staying up-to-date with your case.
Have You Handled Cases Similar to Mine?
If you’re really looking for good questions to ask a lawyer, this is a classic one. A lawyer who has handled cases like yours in the past will be more well-versed in it. They’ll be able to plan for unforeseen circumstances and bumps in the road that a less experienced attorney may not expect.
They will also give you a better idea of how the series of events will play out. With a more experienced lawyer, the chances are that you’ll be more well-prepared for the journey.
You can ask a civil law attorney about their track record as well. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to know how many cases they’ve won or settled in the past.
What Is Your Fee?
This question may go without saying. It is an important one, though.
You need to be sure that you can afford your lawyer. You should know about all the costs that you might be expected to pay.
Ask a civil law attorney lots of specific follow-up questions about the costs during your consultation. That way, you can create a proper budget.
Are There Other Ways to Resolve My Case?
If you can’t think of questions to ask your lawyer about your case, this is a good one.
What many people don’t know is that lots of cases never even go to court. Your lawyer and the lawyer of your opposition can find ways to settle with one another outside of court. Asking this question is a good way to set your terms with your lawyer so that they can come up with a settlement agreement.
If your lawyer has a strategy to settle your case early on, you can avoid a big hassle. Finding another way to resolve your case means that you may not need to appear before a judge or jury and can get this all over with quickly.
What Are the Possible Outcomes of My Case?
A good attorney won’t sugarcoat the potential outcomes or repercussions of your case. You need to be prepared for every possibility, and that includes the possibility of losing.
Make sure that when you ask a civil law attorney this question, you’re prepared to hear the answer. While your lawyer should and will fight for you to win, sometimes the unexpected can happen.
If you’re not sure about questions to ask a lawyer, ask this one. Knowing this answer will help you see all possibilities. From there, you can decide on your next steps more easily.
Ask a Civil Law Attorney Anything
When hiring a civil law attorney, it’s important to know all this information to get the most favorable outcome possible.
