Hiring an attorney is a must if the plaintiff has their own attorney. Because the law is complicated, think twice before representing yourself against someone who has a legal expert representing them. Hiring a lawyer may be expensive but you may have to pay a lot more if you were to lose.
Breach of contract. If you were party to a contract and one or all of the other parties failed to live up to their obligations under the contract then you may have grounds for a breach of contract case. For this type of case, should look for an attorney that specializes in civil litigation and contract disputes. If your business is involved in a contract dispute, look for an attorney that specializes in business law and contract litigation. Employee lawsuits. If your case stems from an issue with your employer, such as wrongful termination or harassment, you should consider hiring an attorney that specializes in employment law. Personal injury. If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence, and that negligence caused you to suffer damages, you may have the grounds for a civil case. You should contact an attorney that specializes in personal injury lawsuits. [1] X Trustworthy Source American Bar Association Leading professional organization of lawyers and law students Go to source Common types of personal injury cases include injuries sustained from a car accident, medical malpractice, or assault. [2] X Research source If your injury occurred while you were at work, the personal injury attorney may refer you to a worker’s compensation attorney or handle the case jointly with them. General practice attorney. Contact an experienced general practice attorney if you are unsure of what kind of attorney you need. General practice attorneys handle a variety legal cases. This attorney may agree to handle the case herself or refer your case to an attorney that specializes in your type of case. [3] X Research source
Referral from friend or family member. If someone you know used an attorney for a civil case, you can ask them whether they would recommend that attorney. A recommendation from a trusted person who has personal experience with an attorney is a good place to start. Local or state legal bar associations. Local and state bar associations often provide referral services to attorneys in your area. Through state bar associations, you can check whether any complaints were filed against your prospective attorney. The American Bar Association has compiled a list of state-by-state resources that can direct you to attorney referral sites, such as contact information for state bar associations. The ABA provides this information at https://www. americanbar. org/groups/legal_services/flh-home/
Bring copies of any documents, including medical records, that you have and are relevant to your case. Ask for an explanation of the fees and costs associated with a lawsuit. Ask the attorney about their experience bringing these types of lawsuits. Ask the attorney about the litigation process and an estimate on how long the legal process will take. Ask the attorney who will keep you informed about the case and how best to contact them with questions. Be open and honest about all of the facts that are relevant to your case. Take notes during the meeting. If you choose to hire the lawyer, read any retainer agreement very closely and ask them to explain the document to you in detail. [4] X Research source
You want to strike the juror that opposing counsel wants the most. You want to seem disinterested in the jurors that you want the most so that opposing counsel doesn’t strike them. [10] X Research source Be wary of individuals who seem to really want to get on the jury. It is impossible to understand their motivations and therefore more difficult to predict whether they will be good jurors. [11] X Research source Speak to the jury in a conversational manner. Try to relate to them on a personal level. Appear calm in front of the jury because this is the first impression that the jury will have of your case. [12] X Research source
Ask direct and leading questions so that a witness has little opportunity to explain his or her answers. Do not appear to “badger” the witness or it may make the jury more sympathetic to the opposing side. If a witness changes their testimony, use their deposition testimony to show that they are providing inconsistent testimony. This may make the jury consider the witness unreliable. If the witness is hostile to your case, then you must highlight their bias so that the jury understands that their testimony may not be completely reliable. [14] X Research source
If you are concerned that a jury may not understand the facts of your case or may not like you or your case this may be a good option. You have an equal say in choosing the arbitrator, which means you may be able to have an arbitrator who is sympathetic to your case or has a greater understanding of the subject matter. Arbitrators are more likely to allow you to present all relevant evidence, even evidence that may not have been admissible in court. This could provide you with a significant advantage if you know that a judge may keep out evidence important to your case. Arbitration can be kept confidential, which may induce a party to submit to arbitration who otherwise would try to drag out the trial process. You can reach a high-low agreement. A high-low agreement allows the parties to choose an amount of money that is the highest possible award a defendant would have to pay as well the lowest amount a plaintiff could receive. If your concerned that you may not be awarded damages or that your case may not be successful, setting a high-low agreement means that even if you lose, you still get some amount of money. It also means that if you win, the defendant will never pay an amount higher than what was agreed on.
Listen carefully to opposing counsel’s questions and only answer the question that they ask. Stop speaking immediately if the judge interrupts you. Answer the questions truthfully and if you cannot recall something being asked of you, you can answer “I cannot recall. ” Respond verbally to questions being asked. Try not to lose your temper while testifying. Do not discuss your testimony with other witnesses. [16] X Trustworthy Source United States Department of Justice Official website of the U. S. Department of Justice Go to source
