Welcome to District of Columbia Lawyer Services
A lawyer, by definition, is someone who is trained in the field of law and provides advice and aid on legal matters. Although the terms ‘lawyer and attorney’ are used interchangeably, there is a distinction. The term lawyer is a general term. Whereas the term attorney is used when the lawyer is pre-qualified, licensed and approved by a local District of Columbia Bar Association to represent a client within a specific judicial system or court district. ADR means Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Use our Legal Search Help Guide to find more information on your legal rights, law, find legal advice, find lawyer, dispute resolution, lawyers, mediation, arbitration, ombudsman and paralegal help.
Your Legal Rights - Legal Search Help Guide
When choosing a District of Columbia lawyer
attorney, you
should
consider these
ten important items:
1) Ask the lawyer if they are approved to represent you in
your local District of Columbia
court district.
2) Find a District of Columbia lawyer with the expertise that matches
the area of
law you
need.
3) Talk with several District of Columbia lawyers. Ask for client
references with
situations similar to your case.
4) Ask about lawyer and court fees. How much does the District of
Columbia lawyer
charge
per hour? And, how many hours
does the lawyer believe it would take to completely resolve the case?
5) Ask the District of Columbia lawyer about their dispute resolution
methods. Do
you they
usually try to reach a reasonable out-of-court settlement or do they
like to present their cases in front of judge and jury?
6) Ask about their success rate in winning cases involving your
specific circumstances.
7) Ask the District of Columbia lawyer what they expect from you in
terms of
dispositions,
court appearances, consultations and time commitments.
8) Ask the District of Columbia lawyer to explain if your case can be
handled on
contingency or on a retainer arrangement.
9) Ask the District of Columbia lawyer to explain your options if they
recommend
mediation
or arbitration to resolve your case.
10) Before selecting the District of Columbia lawyer be absolutely sure
that you
have full
confidence in their abilities to represent you and you are comfortable
in communicating with them.
If legal action is necessary, the District of Columbia lawyer will evaluate all aspects of your situation with you and what to expect at every step during the legal process to ensure your legal rights are fully assessed and protected. Before contacting lawyers, we suggest that you educate yourself on law and the legal process by reading the books mentioned in our recommended reading section.