Handling a legal issue independently can often be time-consuming, as it involves extensive evidence gathering and the ability to present counterarguments efficiently. Attorneys have the legal knowledge and training to help one manage a range of legal matters. However, choosing the right attorney is important to win any issue that gets taken to court. This article lists specific types of legal issues, types of attorney services, and tips for choosing a reliable attorney.

Types of legal issues
There are various types of attorney services based on the range of legal issues; each specialization has certain differences in approach, technicalities, and other factors that must be noted.

Housing
Issues pertaining to home and housing may range from landlord and tenant disputes to illegal eviction, forfeiture, licensing and rent agreement issues, mortgage issues, breach of contract, etc. A real estate or housing attorney is highly well-versed in housing and real-estate laws, reviewing such issues and providing legal advice as required.

Bankruptcy issues
Bankruptcy lawyers specialize in the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and are equipped to handle issues relating to consumer or commercial bankruptcy. Consumer bankruptcy involves one’s inability to repay existing debts and meet financial obligations. In contrast, commercial or corporate bankruptcy refers to a situation in which a company is running losses and continues trading its stocks and bonds but at extremely low prices. Bankruptcy lawyers specialize in cases relating to personal and commercial bankruptcy.

Will-related issues
A clearly stated will is essential to enable one’s family members to understand the division of their property and wealth in the event of one’s or a relative’s death. A lawyer specializing in wills helps one draft these documents clearly, deals with will-related issues upon one’s death, and may act as a power of attorney for the deceased, carrying out wealth, land, and property allocation to one’s heirs based on the will left behind by the individual.

Divorce
Going through divorce proceedings can be physically, mentally, and emotionally challenging for those involved in the case. Divorce lawyers support their clients by advising them on issues like child custody, support for one’s spouse, property division, etc. They also help with filing legal documents, since divorce cases typically involve extensive paperwork, and represent their clients in court during the legal proceedings.

Employment dispute issues
Employment disputes refer to any conflict arising from workplace issues, such as unfair dismissal of employees, discrimination at work, unequal pay, refusal to pay full-and-final dues, workplace harassment, and breach of contract. Lawyers specializing in employment disputes have a thorough understanding of employment laws and clauses and are equipped to represent their clients for such issues.

Personal injury
Personal injury refers to injury to one’s body or mind, which may be caused by car and workplace accidents, falls, vehicle accidents, premises liability, etc. In such cases, clients may file a personal injury lawsuit against the perpetrator with the help of an attorney specializing in personal injury cases. A personal injury lawyer helps clients obtain compensation for damages caused during such accidents.

Types of attorney services

Reviewing of documents
Legal documents like contracts and agreements can be difficult to comprehend. Attorneys can help their clients understand these clauses better before signing them.

Preparation of documents
Similarly, corporate firms, landlords, etc., may need to formulate legal documents using legal parlance and incorporating relevant clauses. One of the roles of lawyers is to help their clients prepare these documents effectively.

Representing clients in court
Often, clients may require help with presenting evidence and arguments in court to seek justice. Lawyers may be appointed to represent their clients in court, presenting arguments and counterarguments and relevant evidence that can help them win the case.

Counseling
Since lawyers have extensive knowledge of legal matters, they may be appointed to counsel their clients regarding specific legal issues, such as in divorce cases, property and land disputes, will disputes, etc.

Tips to find a reliable attorney

Cross-verify the attorney’s credentials
The first step to hiring an attorney is to check his/her credentials, such as professional qualifications, overall experience, license, specializations, etc. It is also advisable to cross-check these details on the state bar association directory.

Actively interview attorneys
Once some lawyers are shortlisted, one should actively interview these lawyers, providing them with a brief summary of the case and gauging their expertise in handling it. One should also ask them to provide examples of similar cases they may have dealt with in the past. Such interviews help one gauge the lawyer’s willingness to help, implementation of legal knowledge and skills, and experience.

Test the lawyer’s communication skills
An attorney should be able to present arguments and counterarguments in court. These activities require effective communication and listening skills, which should be tested even at the initial stages of the association. One should also have good listening skills to hear the opposition lawyers and judges clearly before providing a counterargument.

Compare the price charged by different lawyers
The hourly fees charged by attorneys could range from as low as $50 or $100 to thousands of dollars, based on the lawyer’s experience and reputation and the nature of the case being handled. The best practice is to compare the cost charged by different attorneys based on the type of case, as well as the billing practice of the lawyer (hourly, monthly, etc.) while zeroing in on an attorney.