Milwaukee Law Firms

Guide to Milwaukee Law Firms

As the biggest city in Wisconsin, Milwaukee has some of the largest law firms in the country. Trying to sort out Milwaukee law firms can be difficult, especially if you're not entirely sure what kind of law firm you should be looking for. This guide will provide an overview of the different types of law firms available to legal clients in the Milwaukee area so that you can narrow and tailor your search. This will make it easier for you to consult only with Milwaukee law firms that will fit your needs.

Big Firms: Pros and Cons

When it comes to Milwaukee law firms, one thing is for certain: size does matter. Larger and smaller law firms each have advantages and disadvantages for prospective legal clients. Here are some indications that you may want a large law firm handling your case:

ñ You have many legal matters that need attention in several different areas of law, and you want one firm to handle all of them.

ñ You have legal issues that are highly specialized and want to find Milwaukee law firms with experience in a very narrow field.

ñ You do not mind having to deal with a large, bureaucratic organization or talking to your lawyer's staff sometimes rather than your lawyer personally.

ñ You are a corporate client who needs a law firm with experience representing corporations

Be aware that large Milwaukee law firms tend to charge higher rates for their services, and that due to dealing with thousands of clients, you will be less likely to feel the same kind of personal touches that characterize smaller firms.

Small Firms: Pros and Cons

Smaller law firms may be extremely small—even practices with one or two lawyers may be on your radar if you're looking to be represented in a relatively simple legal matter. Here are some reasons you may wish to hire a smaller firm:

ñ You have a legal issue that is relatively common and does not require unusual legal knowledge or a rare specialty practice area.

ñ You want Milwaukee law firms with lower costs or more understandable billing arrangements, rather than paying high hourly costs.

ñ You want your lawyer to know you personally, and to take your calls promptly and directly when you need legal advice.

ñ You want Milwaukee law firms where lawyers and staff will know your name and understand your case, rather than just being another anonymous client.

General Practice Firms

Once you have decided whether to search for larger or smaller Milwaukee law firms, you can begin to look at whether you want to use a general practice or specialty firm. General practice firms were more common than specialty firms several decades ago, but the tables have begun to turn and now most legal matters are handled by specialized firms. Even so, general practice lawyers may still be useful to you, especially if you have a common legal matter (like divorce, bankruptcy, or a personal injury lawsuit) and want relatively inexpensive representation. In general, general practice Milwaukee law firms will not take any type of case requiring specialized legal knowledge, like patent law or medical malpractice cases.

Specialty Practice Firms

Specialized Milwaukee law firms do not take many kinds of cases. Instead, they specialize in one or two areas of law and have lawyers with extensive experience in this area. You may want to find specialty Milwaukee law firms for immigration issues, family law or divorce, worker's compensation disputes, medical malpractice or personal injury lawsuits, education law (including special education law), or tax law help.

Sometimes, you may have no choice but to use a specialty firm, especially if your legal issue involves an area requiring your lawyer to have technical or scientific expertise. Milwaukee law firms specializing in patent and intellectual property law, for instance, usually hire lawyers with undergraduate or graduate level science backgrounds as well as a law degree.

Finding Milwaukee Law Firms

Beginning your search by looking through a telephone book may be more harmful than helpful, as can using a lawyer just because you saw a billboard or television advertisement that seemed like it pertained to your case. Before you choose a lawyer based on these methods, you may want to try a few others.

First of all, especially if you're dealing with a relatively common issue like writing a will, filing for bankruptcy or divorce, or defending against a traffic ticket, you may be able to ask family and friends for a referral. Finding Milwaukee law firms by asking friends, business associates, or relatives may be an easy way to establish a fast rapport with a lawyer. Otherwise, you may want to begin researching firms online or obtaining a referral from a referral service.

Researching Law Firms

You can begin to research firms online by searching for the type of Milwaukee law firms you are looking for. Once you have found a law firm's website, you can get a feel for the kinds of cases the firm represents and what its lawyers are experienced with. You can also begin to understand the general tone and approach the firm takes: is it more “touchy-feely” or all business? Your desires matter here—pick a firm that seems like one that fits your needs and expectations for a law firm.

Getting a Referral

The Wisconsin Bar Association offers lawyer referrals for anyone who needs a lawyer. After calling the bar association, they will ask you questions about your legal needs and your location. They can then help you find Milwaukee law firms and lawyers who will meet you for an initial consultation. In some cases, this consultation will be free, while in others it will cost a low fee.

Typically, your first consultation will take about half an hour and will be a time for you and your potential lawyer to get to know one another, learn facts about the case, and figure out if you want to begin a lawyer/client relationship.