How to Choose the Right Assault and Battery Attorney in Tampa, FL
There are many options for Tampa assault and battery attorneys to hire. Choosing the best one for you requires effort and careful consideration of many different factors when conducting your search to find the right one for you and your claim. As Tampa’s leading law firm, The Rickman Law Firm knows which aspects of an attorney’s legal services to focus on during your search.
The Rickman Law Firm has some of the highest-rated attorneys who are ready to consult with you during your search. We understand how critical it is to find a lawyer who can best provide you with the professional legal services, representation, and support that you deserve throughout the entire process of your case.
Scheduling an Initial Consultation
The first step in evaluating a potential attorney to hire for your case is to schedule an initial consultation with them. This preliminary meeting will allow you to ask the questions that you need to know about their services, experience, and their potential plans for handling your case. Usually, you can begin to build trust in the right attorney during this initial consultation and start to understand their legal approach and communication styles.
This meeting will allow you and the attorney to begin discussing their case so that they may be familiarized with your accusation and claim, including any details, evidence, and documentation about your case, allowing them to factor that into potential fee estimates and strategies. As we know how important these preliminary stages are in hiring an attorney, The Rickman Law Firm is available 24/7 to contact and schedule your initial consultation.
Do They Have Relevant, Successful Experience With Cases Like Yours?
Because sexual assault and battery cases can be complex, you should hire an attorney who has successful experience handling these cases both inside and outside of court. Your attorney should also additionally have other successful experience practicing law, showing that they know how to navigate the Florida legal system.
Aside from directly speaking with your Tampa assault and battery lawyer to learn about their experience in handling cases like yours, a great option is to look through reviews online. You can find reviews on social media, third-party review sites, like Yelp and Google, and the attorney’s, or legal office’s, website. Hearing stories from other individuals who that specific attorney has helped will allow you to better understand their experience and how successful they are, especially for your specific type of case. Many attorneys specialize in specific types of cases, such as sexual battery cases, so you should look out for one who would understand how to handle creating a strong defense for you.
Do They Have Strong Communication? What Is Their Communication Style Like?
When working with an attorney, one of the top considerations is the level and expectation of communication between the legal representative and the client. An attorney should be responsive, accessible, and communicate with transparency and timeliness. One of their most important tasks is to ensure that their client remains informed throughout the entirety of the legal process of their case.
Often, you can get a gauge for how an attorney will communicate and understand you during the initial consultation. However, it is strongly recommended that you take specific time to directly ask what frequency and type of communications can be expected from you as their client. This transparency will better allow you to choose a lawyer with more reliability and trustworthiness.
What Are Their Fees?
Fees can be a major concern when seeking professional legal representation for your assault and battery case. When hiring a Tampa assault and battery lawyer, you need to be aware of the fees upfront. Conversely, your attorney should also be transparent about the types and rates of fees, as well as when the fees are expected to be paid, what types of payment are accepted, if payment plans or credit cards are accepted, and, ultimately, exactly how the total cost of the fees breaks down. Does this attorney charge a flat fee or charge by the hour? Will there be additional costs for investigations or seeking out witnesses?
Lawyer and attorney fees and costs can widely vary due to factors like experience and success rates and the complexity of your case. You should ask for an estimate of fees in order to evaluate whether the fees of that attorney are reasonable and viable, and can get estimates from multiple different lawyers to find the best financial fit for you before choosing to hire one.
What Is A Potential Strategy They Would Use For Your Case?
No reputable Tampa assault and battery attorney will guarantee success upfront during the initial consultation. However, you can ask for a potential strategy that could be used if you choose to hire that attorney. After familiarizing themselves with your accusation and personal claim, some questions that a potential attorney should be able to answer include:
- How experienced are you with a case like mine?
- Have you had success with cases like mine?
- How would you plan to defend my case?
- What are some steps that would and could and would take to help build my defense?
- Are there any alternatives in options to avoiding trial with my case?
Asking about potential strategies allows you to begin building a rapport with an attorney before hiring them. Additionally, it will allow you to see who would be the best fit for your case, as well as who makes you feel the most comfortable and confident about your defense.
Find the Right Attorney For You At The Rickman Law Firm
The search for the best Tampa assault and battery lawyer can be difficult. With so many factors to consider, it may be overwhelming to find the right attorney to trust your defense and case with. The Rickman Law Firm is proud to have served Tampa for decades, with successful experience inside and outside court for many types of cases.
We work hard to fight for your justice; our office is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your convenience. Contact us today at 813-999-0502 or fill out our consultation form, and one of our attorneys will reach out to you soon.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.