Atlanta Attorney

Atlanta, by virtue of being a large metropolitan area will have a number of reliable options to find an Atlanta attorney.  Remember that every state will have different laws, particularly for personal injury and accident lawsuits.  There may also be different criminal penalties for illegal gun possession or drunk driving.  With this in mind, a reliable Atlanta attorney will be able to defend you adequately when facing a legal matter in Georgia.  The Atlanta attorney will be familiar with distinction in local laws, will also have professional relationships with other lawyers, judges, and affiliated persons, which may affect the outcome of your case.

How do professional relationships affect legal matters?
Professionalism is an important factor for a number of reasons when choosing an Atlanta attorney.  For one, professional conduct in the courtroom is important as an attorney that fails to display proper decorum will earn the ire of the judge and will in turn compromise your case.  An attorney that does follow rules of professionalism and also cultivates relationships with other legal professionals will benefit you in a number of ways.  For instance, if you are attempting to settle with another party, if your Atlanta attorney has a good professional relationship with the other party, you will be able to reach an amicable settlement easily, with the attorneys facilitating.  In criminal cases, a defense attorney may have a good relationship with a prosecutor, which will make certain issues, such as securing a plea bargain, easier.  

An unprofessional Atlanta attorney will compromise your case and finding an attorney with a clear disciplinary record and professional demeanor will be necessary to ensure your legal matter is resolved smoothly.  Luckily for those that need an Atlanta attorney, state bar association membership is mandatory which will compel all Atlanta lawyers to adhere to the bar’s code of professional conduct.  All attorneys disciplined for unprofessional behavior are listed by the Bar Association, to inform the public of wrongdoing.


What are organizations of Atlanta attorneys?
The State Bar of Georgia is a mandatory governing body for lawyers that disciplines, certifies and assists Atlanta attorneys in the practice of law.  This organization may not refer clients to lawyers, but maintains a voluntary directory for interested members.  Referral services will be offered by local and county bar associations.  

To maintain the credibility of their members, the State Bar of Georgia maintains an alternate dispute resolution services to provide legal fee arbitration.  Through this, a client is assured that he or she has some recourse if there is some dissatisfaction with an Atlanta attorney’s services or fees.  There is also the Lawyer’s Assistance Program (LAP) helps at risk lawyers dealing with personal and professional problems get help to deal with addictions and stress.

In addition to fees that Atlanta attorneys will pay in dues and sectional membership, there are a number of mandatory assessments, such as a mandatory fee to the Clients’ Security Fund to help victims of lawyer malpractice.  There is also a suggested fee of $250 to support the Georgia Legal Services program for needy Georgia residents.  

Atlanta attorneys may also be members of the voluntary Atlanta Bar association that provides services such as Continuing Legal Education classes and professional networking events.  Most importantly, the Atlanta Bar offers a Lawyer Referral and Information Service.  Those that use this service to find an Atlanta attorney will pay no more than $35 for an initial half-hour consultation.  The fee may be waived completely for certain legal matters.

There is also the Atlanta Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the Atlanta Bar, which works for the public interest, including pro-bono representation of youth offenders, a police scholarship fund and other scholarships.


How do I know my Atlanta attorney is legitimate?
If you cannot find your Atlanta attorney among the State Bar Association directory, you should be wary.  The lawyer may not be posted in the directory due to privacy issues, but this may also mean that the person offering legal services is not a lawyer.  If the attorney does not have evidence admission to the state bar, you should examine his or her credentials.  Ensure that the law degree is from an accredited law school and that the Atlanta has evidence of admission to the state bar.  If the lawyer does not produce these things, then this is likely not an individual that should be dispensing legal advice.  


What are the typical rates of a Georgia lawyer?
Contingency fees are typical of accident, negligence and malpractice cases.  Unlike other states, Georgia does not place limitation on contingency arrangements, only requiring the attorney to be clear in the method the contingency fee amount is determined.  In contingency fee arrangement, the attorney does not collect a fee unless there is a settlement or jury award.  There will be other fees, such as court costs, that will be paid by the client.  

A retainer is a fee that remains in a trust account.  Every time the lawyer performs a service related to your case, he charges this account.  An Atlanta attorney may ask you to set aside a retainer fee.  Hourly and flat fees will be billed to the retainer rather than billed directly to you.

Free consultations will be available for legal matters such as personal injury and litigation.  If available, take advantage of free, no-obligation initial consultations to determine if the Atlanta attorney is a good option for your needs.  If you require low cost or pro bono legal services, contact the local or state bar association or the Atlanta Bar LRIS for more information and eligibility requirements.


What are questions to ask Atlanta attorneys?
How does my case relate to Georgia state and local laws?

What are your fees and do you have alternate payment plans?

Can I please have all fees in writing?

Are you an active member, in good standing, of the State Bar of Georgia?

Why are you not listed in the directory?

What roles do you play as a member?

What are my chances of winning a settlement or at trial?

Can you refer me to another lawyer if you are unable to take my case?