This depends on the significance of your case and its complexity. If you are pursuing a claim after a minor car accident, and liability is clear, you might be able to work out a favorable settlement without hiring a lawyer. If you are fighting for custody of your children, you might want to hire a lawyer to make sure that you preserve your relationship with them. Or if you are suing a company based on a defective product that injured you, you might want to hire an attorney who understands the technical aspects of these cases and can hire an appropriate expert. If you want to hire a lawyer, but your only concern is that you cannot afford the cost, you can contact local legal aid organizations or the state bar association to see whether you can find free legal assistance.

A lawyer can conduct legal research on your behalf and help prepare your case for trial if needed. This may involve collecting evidence, retaining witnesses, writing briefs, and arguing for you before a judge. If they are assisting you with a transaction, they can help you negotiate the deal in a way that protects your interests. Your lawyer should advise you on your rights and obligations, communicate with you clearly and promptly, and meet appropriate ethical standards. In addition to representing you zealously, they must follow applicable rules of court and respect judges and adversaries.

Most lawyers in the U.S. follow the client-centered model of representation, which means that the client has control over most or all of the major decisions in their case. The lawyer will devise strategies for reaching the client’s goals, but they cannot substitute their goals for those of the client. An example might be a personal injury case in which the attorney wants to settle, but the client wants to go to trial. Even if the attorney thinks that taking a settlement would be smarter, they cannot do this against the client’s wishes if the client rejects their suggestion.

Lawyers often work on a contingency fee when they handle personal injury cases, employment discrimination and harassment cases, and other cases that may lead to a substantial settlement or verdict. If you are pursuing one of these cases, you should be able to easily find a lawyer with this type of fee structure. You can get referrals from friends and family members, consult the state bar and online referral networks, or simply search online for a lawyer in your area. When you meet an attorney who will be handling your case on a contingency fee, you should ask them about the value of your case, your probability of success, and the percentage that will constitute their fee. Be aware that you will receive only general estimates regarding the value of your case and its prospects, since a lawyer cannot promise specific outcomes.