Tampa Law Firms

Guide to Tampa Law Firms

Hiring a Tampa law firm may be the right step for your legal issues, but how do you know which one is right for you? It's important for legal clients to understand the differences between different types of Tampa law firms so that they can pick a firm that will give them everything they want and need. This guide will help you to understand your own law firm needs so that you can find the perfect Tampa law firm to represent your case.

Writing It Out

Before you think about Tampa law firms that can represent you, you should work on focusing your search by thinking about your own needs. Start by getting out a piece of paper and a pen or pencil, and writing down what your legal problem is. Try to keep it brief—maybe one or two sentences—and leave emotion and extra details out, sticking to the legal issue only. For instance, “I want to sue the other driver in the car accident I was in.”

Once you've written down a brief description of your legal problem, you can think about how, ideally, you'd like to see it resolved. Try to state this, again, as briefly and factually as possible: “I'd like to get enough money to pay back my medical bills and put some away for future expenses.” Keeping your problem and solution in front of you can help you stay focused when looking for a Tampa law firm to represent you.

What You Need

Tampa law firms come in many varieties, and it will be much easier to refine your search if you have thought about what you want from a Tampa law firm. Even if you have little or no experience hiring lawyers in the past, it's likely that you have some hopes or expectations about what your lawyer or law firm office should look like. No two Tampa law firms are exactly alike, and you may find that writing down your needs will be very helpful in making final decisions about which Tampa law firm can best represent you.

Types of Law Firms: Big Firms

Size really does matter when it comes to Tampa law firms. A large Tampa law firm may have a hundred lawyers and even more support staff, which makes these firms a more businesslike and formal atmosphere than smaller ones. Some big Tampa law firms are locally-based, while others are local offices for a much larger firm that may have additional offices elsewhere in the United States or abroad. Here are some indicators that a large Tampa law firm may fit your legal needs:

ñ Your search is focused on finding representation not for yourself, but for a corporate client. Most large Tampa law firms have long rosters of corporate clients already, and know how to provide good customer service for corporations.

ñ You want to find Tampa law firms that can represent you in a wide variety of legal matters, including specialized ones. The higher number of lawyers at a large Tampa law firm can make sure that you always have experienced representation, regardless of the legal issue you're currently having.

ñ You want a very businesslike, professional office environment in the Tampa law firms you look at, and accept that you may not get direct contact with your lawyer whenever you need it.

A large Tampa law firm definitely isn't for everybody. If these bullet points don't seem to describe your case at all, you may be looking for something a little smaller.

Types of Law Firms: Small Firms

One of the biggest reasons people rule out large Tampa law firms is cost. Most legal clients simply can't afford to pay the hundreds of dollars per billable hour charged at the average large Tampa law firm. Smaller Tampa law firms have significantly less overhead because they have fewer personnel, lower salaries, and smaller offices, which means they can offer more competitive billing rates.

Comparison shopping is easier at small firms that offer flat fees instead of hourly billing. These flat fees help you make your legal budget without needing to worry that you will be charged more than you can afford. If you have difficulties coming up with a large sum of money upfront, many smaller Tampa law firms will allow you to make low installment payments.

While monetary concerns may motivate you initially to choose a smaller Tampa law firm, you may be surprised at the other advantages. Smaller firms tend to have a more welcoming, warm environment, especially for first-time legal clients, and are used to handling cases for people who are unfamiliar with the law. You may be able to contact your lawyer directly at a moment's notice when you're represented by a small Tampa law firm—something that is almost impossible to do with larger Tampa law firms.

Types of Law Firms: Practice Areas

Size is an important consideration when you choose a Tampa law firm, but it isn't the only factor. You should consider carefully whether you want to find a lawyer just for right now or whether you want a law firm that can represent you in further cases in the future.

For people seeking ongoing legal advice and representation, a general practice Tampa law firm may be the right choice. These firms take clients with nearly any kind of legal concern, even if they have a small number of lawyers, leading to lawyers having broad rather than deep experience. These Tampa law firms are a good choice for clients who would prefer to have one lawyer represent them no matter what the future holds.

On the other hand, many clients want a Tampa law firm to litigate just one case for them. These clients may be happier with specialty Tampa law firms. A specialist law firm takes cases in only one area of law (for instance, real estate law or bankruptcy) and has lawyers with extensive experience handling just a few types of cases.

After you understand what kind of law firm you will be happiest with, you can narrow your search and find Tampa law firms that seem right for you. As long as you remember your own preferences, you will choose a Tampa law firm that represents you well.