There's no shortage of lawyers in the United States: over 1.1 million. That's one for every 265 people. But that doesn't mean finding the right one, or the money to pay for the right one, is easy.
Hopefully you'll never find yourself in a court battle, but sooner or later you'll probably still need to hire a lawyer. If you do, here's how to save.
First, make sure you need a lawyer. For things like a simple will, a paralegal, or even software might suffice.
And if you do need a lawyer, start by making a list of candidates. Ask friends for referrals and check sites like Matindale Hubble: a free site where lawyers evaluate each other. Once you've narrowed down your list, meet with them before you decide.
"If I were hiring an attorney, I would visit as many attorneys as I could possibly find in order to get the right fit," said attorney Jonathon Zitt.
So starting with the right lawyer is the best way to save time, energy and money. The next way to save is to negotiate fees.
"Smaller firms and solo practitioners have a lot more flexibility in what they can charge," said Zitt. "And remember a legal fee is almost always negotiable."
And stay organized. The last thing you want to do is beat around the conversational bush at $350/hour.
"Make a list, a checklist, of the things you intend to discuss with the attorney," said Zitt.
If you want to keep your legal costs down and your success rate up, what you want to do is meet with lots of lawyers, make sure you get the right one, know what the cost is and then manage that relationship well.
