When you need legal advice, it may be tempting to just talk to a solitary lawyer. However, it is almost always in your best interest to hire a law firm for anything that is remotely serious.

There are a number of reasons for this, but first, let’s consider some of the reasons you may need a legal representative in the first place.

Why You May Need a Legal Service

There are things that you can do on your own, but when it comes to legal affairs, you definitely need a lawyer. A legal representative can help you in many ways and it’s usually a mistake to try the DIY approach with things like divorce papers, custody dealings, or other types of legal issues.

Not only will you have to study the law for your situation extensively, you would also need to be aware of the latest changes to the laws and how to implement them. Lawyers spend their entire career learning and adjusting their methods according to the newest bylaws and legal changes. Even if you take a few weeks to learn about law, the chances are that you will not be the best person to represent yourself in court.

Some of the more common reasons to seek legal council include:

Commercial property rental: You need to ensure that the commercial lease is properly drafted and includes everything you need, not just what the landlord needs.

Franchise agreements: There are many rules for and with franchises and you should be fully aware of all implications if you sign the contract.

Sports contracts: Again, it’s in your best interest to have an expert go over the paperwork to ensure you are being properly represented.

Wills: If you don’t have a will, you should create one immediately. It will determine how your estate is handled after you pass away.

Probate: If someone else has passed without a will or their will is being contested, you’ll need legal advice.

Landlord issues: Trying to handle problems with a landlord can be frustrating and sometimes requires a legal exit.

Tenant issues: If you’re the landlord, you may need some help dealing with a tenant who has breached contract or simply to create a fair rental agreement.

Business creation: Setting up a business often goes smoother when you have an expert lawyer helping you out.

Divorce: If you’re splitting with your spouse, you will likely need a lawyer to help ensure you get what you are entitled to.

There are many reasons why you may need legal help, but these give you a few of the most common reasons why you may seek out a law firm.

The Benefits of Hiring a Law Firm

There are definite benefits to choosing a law firm over an individual lawyer or trying to manage things on your own. While a single lawyer may be perfectly capable of handling a case, they are often stretched thin, trying to do all things for all people, which can end up being disastrous for you.

A law firm is far more capable, simply because they have more people available.

1. Experience and Training

A law firm has multiple lawyers available and in most cases, there will be several lawyers in each area of law. For example, when you need divorce papers, a lawyer with plenty of experience in family law will be assigned to your case. They’ll have necessary experience, since this is their area of expertise. However, if you also need someone to help with your lease or signing a sports contract, the same law firm will have experts available for these areas, as well.

You essentially get access to multiple experts in each field when you hire a law firm and this can greatly benefit you and your case. Where a solo lawyer may try to handle each of these areas, there is simply no comparison to those who have dedicated their careers to this specific area of law.

2. Faster Results

Another big advantage of hiring a law firm is that there are assistants and interns who are in charge of collecting information and doing research. This frees the expert lawyers to handle the more important business. The end result for you, the client, is that everything moves faster than if you were to work with one person who is trying to research multiple cases at once.

Your case will be sorted faster, simply because there are more people on it. However, if you need to go to court, that will take longer, as it is dependent on the court schedule. For contracts and similar things, you’ll find that your needs are met and exceeded by the right firm.

3. Replacement Lawyers

In the event that your assigned lawyer is unable to complete the task at hand, there are other experts who can step in when you have a law firm on your side. This can be extremely useful, as even lawyers can go on vacation or get sick. When something occurs to make a solo lawyer unavailable, you could easily end up with no way to sort the issue out and you’ll end up waiting for an unknown period of time.

4. Local Knowledge

Hiring a local law firm also has some big advantages. For one, the firm’s lawyers will usually be quite familiar with the people who are involved in all stages of the process. From judges to secretaries, they know who does what and will have already established relationships with them.

When you’re trying to manage something difficult that requires signatures or paperwork that you’ve had difficulty getting, it can be advantageous to have a solicitor who knows everyone involved. They can get things done far faster than you would on your own and since they’re already familiar with the required steps, the entire process is expedited, whether you’re registering a new company or filing for a divorce.

5. Reputation

A law firm tends to have a bigger, better reputation than an individual lawyer who is flying solo. There is more power behind the name and that can really work to your advantage in certain situations. If you’re trying to deal with an unpleasant landlord, having a firm behind you with a great reputation can help resolve things faster. It’s always helpful to know the right people.

There are so many advantages to hiring a legal firm and you won’t regret having access to multiple experts for your legal needs. If you have a company that frequently requires legal advice, you may even wish to put the firm on retainer to ensure you always have access to their help.

Choosing a Law Firm

Now that you are aware of the benefits of hiring a law firm, you need to know how to find the right one. It’s a good idea to look for a firm that has a dedicated section for your legal needs. If you are in entertainment, for example, you want to be sure the law firm has a section for entertainment contracts. Likewise, if you are a landlord, you’ll need lawyers who are confident in their abilities to defend a landlord and who are experts in rental law.

It’s also important to ensure that the law firm you choose is responsive. If you can’t get them to talk to you when you’re trying to discuss a new case, then you’ll want to avoid them. Find a firm that is willing to talk to you and to answer your questions.

Experience is also essential. There’s no point in hiring a firm that has lost all its cases. Ensure that the firm you select has a good reputation for resolving cases and check that they are able to handle themselves in trial. A good track record is essential if you want to be sure that they’ll help you. Not all cases will go to trial, but if you know that yours probably will, it’s best to look for someone who has the relevant experience. Keep in mind that within a law firm, some lawyers will have more experience in this area than others.

Choosing a law firm may be difficult if you’re not sure what you need. When you find that you’re still struggling, make an appointment to talk to a lawyer in the firm and ask your questions. It may help to know what their process is and to find out the next steps for your situation.

Are you ready to talk to a law firm and get some answers? Blacks Legal has a range of talented lawyers who specialise in everything from franchises and corporate law to civil law. Contact us to set up an appointment.