Deciding to hire a property lawyer is not something to take lightly. After all, this person will be handling one of your most valuable assets—your home.
You need to make sure that you find somebody who not only possesses the qualifications but is also someone you can rely on when situations revolving around your property get dire.
With that in mind, here are a few things to look for when hiring a property lawyer.
1) Experience and Qualifications
When it comes to hiring a property lawyer, experience and qualifications are paramount. The last thing you want is to hire an incompetent lawyer that will do nothing but waste your time and money.
As such, make sure that the lawyer you intend to hire has ample experience in dealing with property-related matters. It would also be helpful if they have a solid understanding of property laws in your state or country. Laws can vary from place to place, so hiring a local lawyer can be advantageous.
It’s also important to check that the lawyer you end up hiring is qualified. Ideally, the lawyer you choose be a member of the relevant professional bodies such as the Solicitors Community or General Council of the Bar. Another confidence booster would be if they have received recognition from the legal community in the form of awards and accolades.
2) A Good Reputation
Prestige from other legal professionals is good and all, but you’d also want to ensure that the lawyer you’re hiring has a good reputation with their clients.
One way to check this is by reading online reviews on Google or Facebook pages. This will give you an idea of what kind of experiences other clients have had with the lawyer in question. If most of the reviews are positive, then that’s a good sign that the prospect is worth further digging.
It’s also helpful to ask for recommendations from people you know and trust—such as family, friends, or colleagues. This is especially true if they have successfully settled property-related matters beforehand. If somebody you know has had a good experience with a particular lawyer, you’ll at least have a lead to follow up on.
3) Clear Communication
When dealing with something as valuable as property, clear communication is crucial. You need to make sure that you hire a lawyer who is easy to get in touch with and who will keep you updated throughout the process. They should also be able to explain things clearly and in plain English—after all, not everybody is familiar with legal jargon! But when these legal terminologies need to be used, your lawyer should still take the time to explain them to you so that there’s no confusion.
One way you can gauge a lawyer’s communication skills is by setting up an initial consultation. This should give you a good idea of how well they communicate and whether or not they’re somebody you feel comfortable working with. Even if the reviews and qualifications are good, it’s always best to trust your gut and go with somebody you feel you can rely on.
In addition, you want your lawyer and realtor to work smoothly and cohesively. Make sure that they’re able to communicate well and are constantly on the same page regarding boundary disputes and survey errors.
4) Work History
A lawyer who’s wet behind the ears is more likely to overlook important points than an experienced legal professional when handling your case. With that in mind, it would be best to choose a lawyer who has a vast and far-reaching work history. This way, you can be confident that they have a deeper understanding of how the law works and are thus less likely to make errors.
As such, be sure to read up on your prospect’s work history and see what kinds of cases they usually take on. Has their track record been clean so far? Have they been involved in any controversies?
Another huge boon that can indicate a lawyer’s competence is the reputation of their law firm. If the firm’s name has a sound reputation, that will consequently transfer over to the lawyer’s show of competence as well.
These esteemed professionals, like Property Lawyers with LegalVision UK, usually offer the most reliability to their clients. As such, it would be ideal to put them on your shortlist.
5) Affordable Rates
While a large bulk of competent lawyers are locked behind an exorbitant fee, there are still a sizeable bunch of quality property lawyers who don’t charge as much.
If you want to get the best bang for your buck, take the time to compare rates from different lawyers before making a decision.
Depending on the complexity of your case, you can pay up to £115 per hour to £215 per hour for a lawyer. With that in mind, it would be best to have a ballpark estimate of how much you’re willing to spend on legal services.
You should also ask potential lawyer prospects about any hidden costs that may come up during your case. This way, you won’t need to worry about shelling out more than you need to due to padded fees.
Conclusion
The points stated above are just a few things to look for when hiring a property lawyer.
By taking your time and doing some research, you can find somebody who is qualified, experienced, and trustworthy—all the qualities you need to achieve the verdict you desire.
Good luck!
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