Finding the right Columbus, Ohio, lawyer can make all the difference in achieving the outcome you want from your case. But how do you know which of the thousands of attorneys practicing in and around the capital city can do the best job of representing your interests, protecting your rights, and working to secure the insurance settlement, jury award, or court verdict you seek?

You must do your research and be willing to stand up for yourself. Do not, however, let yourself feel overwhelmed by options or act on whims. No perfect lawyer search process that will work for every client exists, but the disability, workers’ comp, retirement and personal injury attorneys with Agee Clymer Mitchell and Portman are happy to share the following five general rules.

Learn Who Handles Your Type of Case

Each legal problem has its unique elements, but cases fall into general categories like criminal, personal injury, and family law/divorce. Based on this, typing “Columbus,” “lawyer,” and “disability lawyer” into a web search page will return a list of links to law firms that could offer the services you need.

Use more specific search terms to trim the list. For instance, if you live in Franklin County or elsewhere in Ohio, substitute the name of your hometown for Columbus to find lawyers who have offices nearer your house or place of employment. Putting in details about your specific problem also narrows your search. For instance, a specialist in OPERS cases may be what you need instead of a Social Security attorney.

Research a Few Options That Appear to Meet Your Needs

Visit a few of the law firm websites. Look for practice area pages that describe the cases firm attorneys handle. Also check out FAQs to see if any of your initial questions have basic answers. Most sites offer short biographies of lawyers you might hire, and almost all present brief summaries of case results.

Read as much or as little of this information as you feel is necessary to form a general opinion of the firm’s fit for you. “I think I might be OK with these guys” or “Not really my kind of folks” is as much of a decision as you must make at this point.

Check What Former Clients Say

When a website holds your attention, click around for pages on which former clients discuss their experiences. Client testimonials will be uniformly positive, but be on the lookout for words and phrases that match your expectations for what an attorney-client relationship should be. Do you expect respect and a sense of family, or are hard work and results all that matter? Past performance predicts future realties when it comes to how a lawyer interacts with the people they advise and represent.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Never hire a lawyer you haven’t met. If possible, meet with more than one lawyer before hiring anyone. Avoid law firms that charge you the first time you walk through the door. Give points for a law firm willing to send a lawyer to meet you if you cannot travel easily.

Be prepared to discuss in detail your issues and what you hope to accomplish by pursuing a claim or going to trial. Then be willing to ask the lawyer tough questions, including, but not limited to:

  • Do you think I have a strong case?
  • What happened when you took cases similar to mine?
  • What will succeeding require in terms of time and collecting evidence?
  • How much will hiring you cost?

Know You Can Fire Your Lawyer

Your Columbus, OH, lawyer works for you. You can end an attorney-client arrangement at any time. In fact, you should fire a lawyer who appears neglectful, poorly informed, or less than completely dedicated to working only on your behalf.

If you have read this far, you know that the legal team at Agee Clymer Mitchell and Portman cares enough about our clients to admit we may not be the best choice for everyone every time. If you would like to schedule a consultation, call us at (800) 678-3318 or use this contact form to let us know how we can get in touch