Maricopa County Attorney

Maricopa County, with over three million residents and growing is one of the largest counties in the United States, with no shortage of attorneys to handle your legal matter.  When choosing a Maricopa County attorney, you will be assured that every attorney must be a member of the State Bar of Arizona and will abide by stringent rules of professional conduct and ethics.  There is always a distinct advantage to using a local Maricopa County attorney as you will enjoy ease of communication, convenience and extensive knowledge of state and local laws 

What should I do before meeting a Maricopa County attorney?
For civil cases, ensure that you are within the statute of limitations for the case you intend to file.  These will vary by the type of litigation and the state.  Typical Arizona statutes of limitations include two years for medical malpractice or products liability injury and one year for intentional injuries.

If you are in need of a specific legal service, seek out a Maricopa County attorney that specializes in the area of law related to that service.  Services will be available for a flat fee, although some Maricopa County attorneys will charge hourly fees for the use of the attorney’s time.

Always articulate your needs to the Maricopa County attorney clearly, so that he or she may work in your best interests and you are not overbilled for services that you do not need.


Where to look for an attorney
The State Bar of Arizona is a mandatory membership organization and the disciplinary records of all Maricopa County attorneys are posted for review by the public.  The State Bar maintains a “Find a Lawyer” service, which will help you find a Maricopa County attorney near you.  All Arizona lawyers will be held to the professional and ethical standards of this organization.

The Maricopa County Bar Association is the voluntary organization for Maricopa County attorneys.  This organization provides CLE classes to help member attorneys fulfill their continuing education requirements as well as sectional membership for specialized lawyers.  The Maricopa Lawyer is the publication of the MCBA and will provide valuable insight into legal developments in Maricopa County. 

The Maricopa County Bar Foundation is the charitable arm of the MCBA and provides legal assistance to indigent persons, legal ethics and educating the public on legal matters.  Pro-bono arrangements can be facilitated through the MCBA for lawyers that demonstrate sufficient need.

Most importantly, the Maricopa County Bar Association provides a Lawyer Referral Service that will connect those that need a Maricopa County attorney with an attorney for a $40 administrative fee.  This fee will provide a no-obligation 30 minute consultation with a Maricopa County attorney.  The fee is waived for personal injury and worker’s compensation cases.  The LRS will try to accommodate requests such as finding an attorney close to your work or residence and will ensure that the Maricopa County attorney that you are referred to will carry malpractice insurance.  The service promises to connect you to a lawyer only, rather than a paralegal or document preparer.

You may also use this website to find a Maricopa County attorney, by using the Find Attorneys function at the top of the page.


Evaluating your Maricopa County attorney
There are a number of ways that a negligent attorney can hurt a client.  Luckily, there will be malpractice insurance and client security funds to assist clients that suffer personal loss from legal malpractice.  You can be assured that such instances of fraud are very rare.  There is the possibility however, that mistakes can be made that will affect your case.  Professionalism and knowledge of your legal matter are essential when evaluating your Maricopa County attorney.  Ensure that your attorney is professional and listens to you carefully.  An attorney that ignores your wishes or attempts to dictate the details of your legal matter may not provide you with the level of service you require.

Have a strategy before agreeing to meet to settle with the other party or take them to trial.  Your lawyer may wish to avoid trial and achieve the best result through negotiation or the lawyer may prefer to have the case go before a jury.

Difficulty in communicating with your Maricopa County attorney is enough reason to consider another lawyer that will give your case adequate attention.  If necessary, you will have to file a complaint with the State Bar of Arizona, which maintains a disciplinary body to resolve disputes between Maricopa County and their clients.  This alone should give you some peace of mind when consenting to a fee agreement, so long as you realize how you will be billed.


Relevant fees and arrangements
The typical fee arrangement for injury, malpractice, accident and worker’s compensation cases are contingency fees.  Contingency fees are only collected if damages are won, which reduces the legal costs of the plaintiffs significantly.  The client will only have to pay the relevant court fees.  Be aware of lawyers that seek to settle exclusively out of court and readily accept lowball offers, thus getting a quick payday while leaving you with a settlement far below what your claim deserves.

Before you come to an arrangement with a Maricopa County attorney, you may be billed for hourly fees for use of the lawyer’s time beyond the initial consultation.  A retainer fee is a non-refundable advance payment by the client that covers the cost of services provided by the lawyer.  This is held in a trust account and is refilled at the discretion of the lawyer.  The use of a retainer can cause the costs of the case to skyrocket so ensure that you and your lawyer discuss this arrangement at length.

Take advantage of free consultations when they are available to discuss potential fees and payment arrangements with Maricopa County attorneys.  Feel free to consult with multiple attorneys and find a Maricopa County attorney that is professional and communicates well while being attentive to your needs.


Interviewing your attorney
The following questions are important when interviewing your attorney:

How does my case relate to Arizona laws?

Are local laws in effect for this case?

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

Can I please have all fees in writing?

Can we work out an alternate arrangement that suits my economic needs?

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

Do you have inclusive service packages available?