subject: How to Evaluate a Law Firm [print this page] How to Evaluate a Law Firm How to Evaluate a Law Firm
For citizens of the Pensacola region of Florida, finding a lawyer for legal help is not a problem, as there is certainly no shortage of area lawyers. The challenge then for Pensacola's citizens is finding the right Pensacola attorney to handle the legal problems they are facing.
To help narrow down one's choices to a select few firms for final consideration, consider these Pensacola law firm search and evaluation tips from the law office of Werre & Fitzgerald, P.A., representing individuals and families in the counties of Santa Rosa and Escambia in matters of family and dependency law, criminal defense law, and bankruptcy law.
Tip oneCompare experience
There are three considerations related to experience that may tip the balance in favor of one Pensacola attorney over another:
Years of practicedoes the lawyer have two or twenty years of experience? A more legally matured lawyer has more experiences to draw from when handling a new situation.
Local experienceif a lawyer claims to have 25 years of experience, but only one of those years was in Florida, he or she may be far less prepared to meet a Pensacola client's needs than a Pensacola lawyer with 10 years' experience locally.
Subject matter experiencethere are scores of legal practice areas, each with myriad laws and procedures. Start any search by narrowing it down to only those lawyers whose advertised practice areas match your legal situation.
Tip twoCompare track records
Ask any prospective Pensacola law firm for information regarding their successes in the area of law that matches your needs. For example, if it is a criminal law practice, ask what the firm's attorneys have been able to do to reduce sentences, achieve concessions, or win cases for their clients.
Tip threeCompare breadth of practice
Rarely does one pass through life needing the services of an attorney just once. And rarely are those legal needs going to be the same type of legal issue the next time. A general practice firm that serves clients in several areas of law offers a more holistic view of the law and can work with clients with varying needs between one practice area and another. Many clients find this advantageous compared to switching to a new firm with every new type of legal issue.
