Commonly Asked Questions Concerning Hiring Legal Representation

Retaining a law firm to represent you can be a necessary step for protecting your interests. When people hire attorneys for the first time, they may not have a complete understanding about hiring these professionals for representation.

Are Lawyers Only Needed When You Are Filing A Lawsuit?  

Lawsuits can be serious proceedings that require professional representation. Unfortunately, some people are under the assumption that they will only need to hire these professionals when they are planning on pursuing or defending a lawsuit. However, there are many other instances where an attorney can be useful. In particular, you may benefit from this representation in any instances where you will need to review or prepare legally binding documents.

Is It Always Necessary To Pay A Retainer Fee?

Movies and other sources of media will give individuals the impression that hiring an attorney will always involve paying a retainer fee. While this is commonly used for attorneys that charge hourly rates, many others will represent individuals on a flat fee basis or using contingency fees. As a result of these various billing and payment structures, individuals will likely find it possible to locate an attorney that works with their financial situation.

How Long Will It Take To Resolve Your Legal Issue?

Being involved in a legal dispute is always an unpleasant experience, which will make individuals interested in ensuring the dispute is resolved as quickly as possible. Regretfully, there will be many instances where these disputes can take an extended period of time to resolve. The exact time needed will vary greatly depending on the nature of the issue. Document preparation and review services can usually be handled within days or weeks while complicated lawsuits can take years to resolve. Appeals and mistrials can further delay this resolution.

What Happens During The Process Of Appealing A Ruling?

While you may believe that you have a strong case, there will always be a risk that the judge or jury fails to find your side of the disagreement convincing. This can be a devastating experience for you, but it may not always be the end of the fight. The appeal process can often be used to correct procedural or interpretive mistakes that were made by the lower court. 

Individuals often assume that appealing will involve undergoing another trial. Yet, an appeal is different in that written briefs from both sides will be submitted and reviewed. In some instances, it can be possible for the appeal court to order a new trial, but this is not always the end ruling.

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