Some lawyers specialize in providing legal services to dentists to shield their practices. They help manage compliance and litigation matters involving patients, associates, and shareholders. As a practicing dentist, it always helps to have access to a dental law attorney whom one can trust during legal complications. But with a vast number of dental practice lawyers available online, finding the right one to cater to one’s needs can be a challenging task.

Requirements for a dental malpractice case
When a dental patient makes false or unsubstantiated claims against a dentist, the dentist may need to seek the help of a dental malpractice lawyer. However, certain requirements must be met to pursue a dental malpractice case against a dentist. The court may not accept the case if these requirements are not fulfilled.

• There should be evidence of the patient-dentist relationship.
• There was a breach in the standard care, which inflicted harm to the patient.
• The harm caused significant psychological, physical, and financial harm to the patients.
• The dentist did not provide adequate standard care.

The court will accept the patient’s case when all these four requirements are met.

Tips to find the best lawyer for dentists
If the court has reasons to believe that all four conditions are satisfied, it will register the patient’s case. In this situation, a dentist will need to hire a dental practice lawyer to fight the case. One can follow some tips to find the best lawyer to save one’s practice.

1. Understand the degree of legal representation one needs
When looking for a lawyer, a dentist must understand the level of legal representation they need and then choose a commercial law firm that offers adequate assistance. For instance, if several employees are on board, one may need a lawyer to offer employment law advice. Similarly, if an unhappy patient files a case against a dentist, they will require a lawyer to help protect their reputation and practice.

2. Seek referrals
It is one of the easiest ways to find a trusted lawyer. Before searching the web for top lawyers for dentists, one can ask friends, family, or work associates for recommendations of lawyers they have worked with, especially if they have faced similar situations. However, before choosing, one must ensure that they can cater to one’s needs. It always helps to go with someone who offers excellent legal services and has a good track record.

3. Experience and expertise
One must assess whether the dental practice lawyer one selects has the necessary knowledge and experience. It is important to keep in mind that a dentist’s legal needs will differ from those of a travel agency, a parcel delivery company, or a coaching center. So, one must look for a lawyer who knows how to fight a dentist’s case and has vast experience in this area. While many aspiring young attorneys have the energy, drive, and vigor and may even offer cheaper services to attract a client base, they may not have the expertise. Thus, their probability of making blunders is high. Any mistake on their part can break one’s case. So, it is safe to go with a veteran lawyer with several years of expertise. They are less likely to be caught off-guard and are well-versed in the routine. All this increases one’s probability of winning.

4. Schedule a meeting with the attorney
After narrowing down the list to four to five attorneys, it is best to meet them in person to understand their approach to the case. After one is satisfied with the way the attorney approaches one’s case, one can zero in on the lawyer one thinks will be more suitable to fight the case. This attorney will shield the individual’s livelihood and business from any legal hassle, so it is important to ascertain that they are worth the bet.

5. Trustworthiness
A competent attorney has the knowledge and experience to navigate a court case. They are familiar with the evidence and documents that need to be presented in court, and they gather them in a timely manner. Since they are experts in the field of law, dentists can trust them with important legal matters. However, if there is even a slight doubt in their abilities or trustworthiness, it is better to continue the search for another attorney. In such cases, thorough research is essential to find a lawyer who can be fully trusted.

6. Consultation fees
Advertisements can often be misleading, especially when it comes to law firms. Some attorneys advertise low prices but could hide extra costs, such as fax costs, copying charges, and filing fees. So, it is always advisable to inquire about their consultation fee before meeting them. One should ask if they charge a flat fee or bill by the hour. Knowing the cost of their services and when one is required to pay can help one plan and determine whether one can afford the lawyer.