What should I look for in a Legal Professional?

The lawyer will be helping you solve your problems. So, you must feel comfortable enough to tell him or her, honestly and completely, all personal facts necessary to resolve your problems. No one you listen to and nothing you read will tell you which particular lawyer will be the best for you; you must judge for yourself.

Most lawyers will meet you briefly for no fee to "get acquainted". This will allow you to talk with a prospective lawyer before making a final decision. When you talk with a prospective lawyer or law firm, you should have prepared yourself and have certain questions to ask to help you determine whether this lawyer is the best for you.

If the lawyer quotes a fee, be certain that you know exactly what services the charge does and does not include. Also, make sure that you get all fee agreements in writing, they should not be only verbal agreements. Further, as a contingency in case of fee disputes, you may want to explore an arbitration provision.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions, after all the lawyer's area of expertise and prior experience is important.

Links of Interest
www.llrx.com/features/newzealand.htm - An Introduction to New Zealand Law
www.nz-lawsoc.org.nz – New Zealand Law Society
www.cab.org.nz – Citizens Advice Bureaux
www.courts.govt.nz – New Zealand Courts
www.justice.govt.nz – Ministry of Justice

Other Links
www.consumer.org.nz – Consumers' Institute of New Zealand
www.consumer-ministry.govt.nz – Ministry of Consumer Affairs
www.sorted.org.nz – Sorted, Financial Planning
www.loandirect.co.nz – Our sister mortgage directory site
www.insurancedirect.co.nz – Our sister insurance directory site