Tucson Law Firms

Guide to Tucson Law Firms

Finding a Tucson law firm to represent you isn't easy, especially if you have never had to search for a lawyer before. Before you can decide from the many available Tucson law firms, you will need to know what you want and need as a client. This guide will help you understand your own expectations and how to find a Tucson law firm that can meet them, which in turn will make it easier when it is time for you to begin your search.

Writing It Down

Before you start looking for Tucson law firms, you may want to get a handle on your own needs. Start by getting out a sheet of paper and a pen, and try writing down a brief, factual description of your legal problem. Keep emotions out, and try to limit your summary to just a sentence or two. This may take several tries, especially if your problem is complex.

After you have written a brief description of the problem, you should think about how you'd ideally like to see it resolved. Once you can state this in just a couple of sentences, write it down, too. If you're unsure of how you want your legal issues to be resolved, you may just be seeking information—write that down, too. Keeping this sheet of paper in front of you will be a tool to help you narrow your search for a Tucson law firm later on.

Your Law Firm Needs

Finding Tucson law firms that meet your needs is easier once you understand exactly what those needs are. After you have written down your goal, write whatever expectations and desires you have for a law firm. Even if you've never used a lawyer's services before, you probably have some expectations in terms of personality and demeanor. Remember that there are no right or wrong answers—with so many Tucson law firms practicing, it's very likely that you can find a Tucson law firm to meet any needs that you have.

Types of Law Firms: Big Firms

Tucson law firms are all different from one another, but one of the biggest differences is size. A large Tucson law firm may have over a hundred lawyers, while the smallest ones have just one or two. Law firm size makes a big difference to the atmosphere of a law office and what kind of clients and cases different Tucson law firms can handle. For some types of clients, the depth of experience at a large Tucson law firm is incredibly valuable. If you are one of these types of clients, you may want to focus your search on big Tucson law firms:

ñ You are seeking representation for a corporation, rather than for yourself. Corporations often have very particular legal needs, and Tucson law firms with many lawyers are more likely to have a long existing list of corporate clients.

ñ You want a Tucson law firm with a very professional, businesslike environment with a clear hierarchy.

ñ You are interested in finding Tucson law firms that can represent you in a wide variety of legal matters now and in the future, and have a big budget to spend on your Tucson law firm.

Big Tucson law firms obviously aren't for everybody. If this doesn't seem to be a description of what you're looking for, you may need to look for a smaller Tucson law firm.

Types of Law Firms: Small Firms

Price alone may make you shy away from large Tucson law firms. A typical big Tucson law firm may charge around $200 per hour for an associate's time and more than double that if a partner is representing you. Big Tucson law firms charge big prices because they have larger offices, higher salaries, and more personnel. A small Tucson law firm can offer more flexibility in terms of cost.

It can be difficult to comparison shop for legal services if you are being charged by the hour. Many lawyers at small Tucson law firms make comparison shopping for a Tucson law firm easier by offering flat fees for legal services. You can generally find a flat fee arrangement if you have any type of common legal problem, whether civil or criminal. Many lawyers at small Tucson law firms will also allow you to spread out your payments for your legal bills over several months, rather than paying everything at once.

In addition to the financial reasons for choosing a small Tucson law firm, you may be more comfortable with a small firm because of the more casual and comfortable atmosphere many of these firms have. Because their lawyers are used to dealing with less legally experienced clients, you may feel more at ease with your lawyer in small Tucson law firms.

Types of Law Firms: Practice Areas

If you've decided on the size of the Tucson lawfirm you want representing you, you should next consider whether you want to hire Tucson law firms ust for one legal issue or if you want an ongoing lawyer/client relationship in the future.

For people who want a lawyer that can represent them or their family for a long time to come, a general practice Tucson law firm that has some experience in handling many types of cases (even if only a few lawyers work at the firm) may be the best option. These law firms offer one-stop shopping for legal services and can handle a wide variety of needs. Many clients are more comfortable seeing one Tucson law firm instead of using different Tucson law firms to handle several different cases over time.

Those searching for a firm for a single legal issue may want to investigate specialized Tucson law firms. These firms handle only cases in a few legal areas (like divorce and family law) or may specialize even further—some criminal defense firms, for instance, only take clients who have been charged with particular crimes.

Once you have decided what kind of Tucson law firm you're looking for, you will be much better able to get the search results you want. Happy hunting, and remember to keep your preferences in mind as you begin your search for Tucson law firms.