How to Pick a Consumer Lawyer

When we cannot take care of ourselves, those we chose to work on our behalf can have a profound effect on our quality of life. Their skills, resources, passion and dedication, are the difference between success and failure. These same attributes may also determine how well we weather the process of getting to that result. This is just as true for lawyers as it is for any other professional. When dealing with a consumer protection problem, the most important decision you can make is choosing who will help you.

Consumer law is its own area of practice. The attorney must specialize in your area of concern. Not only must the attorney have the requisite knowledge and experience, but the attorney must have demonstrated his or her efficacy over and over again. In the simplest terms: the attorney you select has got to have street cred. Beyond diplomas on the wall, what has your potential attorney proven themselves capable of accomplishing?

Some attorneys are generalists. You have probably seen their advertisements on television or billboards. These are often enormous law firms, with dozens or sometimes hundreds of attorneys. Though they have popular name recognition, the attorney assigned to your matter will almost certainly not be the marquee name. On the other hand, some attorneys are specialists. Though there are exceptions, many come from smaller law firms, and even if their names do not appear on television, they may be well-known to the judges, lawyers, and regulatory industries that matter to you.

A poor choice of attorney is someone who moves a high volume of cases in order to collect the basic lawyer fees, akin to flipping burgers for an hourly wage. Or, an attorney who strips the equity from a case by failing to put in the appropriate time and effort. And the worst choice would be an attorney who attempts to milk the file for all it is worth, asking for more fees all along the way, all the while postponing any actual resolution.

The right attorney has passion for their work, and compassion for your situation. The right attorney is going to put their heart and soul into navigating the legal system efficiently on your behalf. They should listen well as you explain your matter, learn the details of your case, and employ clear, well-structured arguments as your case moves forward, problem-solving all along the way.

When it comes to consumer law, the right attorney means the difference between years of frustration or the peace of mind knowing your matter is in the right hands. That choice means the difference between coming away empty-handed or coming away with a decision or settlement that eases your mind, knowing justice has won the day.  Find an attorney whose experience and credentials demonstrate that he or she will be able to provide exactly what you need.

Here are some resources to get you started. Happy hunting!

National Associate of Consumer Advocates http://www.naca.net/find-attorney

Avvo http://www.avvo.com/find-a-lawyer

 

If you need help with these or other consumer rights issues, give us a call at (248) 208-8864 or visit us at www.MichiganConsumerLaw.com