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Baton Rouge Law Firms

Guide to Baton Rouge Law Firms

With thousands of practicing lawyers in the greater Baton Rouge area, finding the perfect Baton Rouge law firm to represent you is no simple task.  In order to find Baton Rouge law firms that meet your needs, you will need to understand your available options and what different types of firms do.  This guide will give you an overview so that you can narrow your options and pick the Baton Rouge law firm that is right for you based on size and specialty area.

Before You Begin Your Search

When you start looking, it's important to know what your priorities are.  To keep your search for Baton Rouge law firms on track, you should get out a pen and paper before you try to find a Baton Rouge law firm to represent you.  On the paper, write first why you are looking for a law firm, and what you would hope for as an ideal resolution to your legal problem.

Next, consider carefully what you want your lawyer/client relationship to look like.  Are you hoping to find Baton Rouge law firms that can represent you in a variety of ongoing matters, or do you want a Baton Rouge law firm just for this one legal problem?  

Keep thinking of questions relevant to you.  Do you want a lawyer who has a great deal of experience with similar cases?  Do you need a Baton Rouge law firm that gives you personal interaction with your lawyer on a regular basis, or are you content talking to a secretary?  Remember, there are no right or wrong answers.  The answers to these questions will simply help you keep your preferences in mind when you begin looking for Baton Rouge law firms to represent you.

Large Law Firms

Not all Baton Rouge law firms are created equal.  Size really does matter when it comes to choosing a Baton Rouge law firm to represent you. Generally, large law firms in Baton Rouge may be headquartered there, or may be smaller branches of a much larger national or international firm.  The largest Baton Rouge law firm has dozens of lawyers on staff, each with different experience and specialty areas.  If any or all of these points describe you, you may need to look at large Baton Rouge law firms:

 You need representation for a corporation, rather than an individual.  While many smaller Baton Rouge law firms are inexperienced with corporate clients, a large Baton Rouge law firm is likely to have a long existing roster of corporate clients and extensive experience in representing and billing corporations.

 You prefer a formal, even bureaucratic atmosphere and want the highest level of professionalism from the Baton Rouge law firm representing you.

 You need a firm that can handle many legal issues for you on an ongoing basis, rather than just one legal matter in the immediate future.

Remember, large Baton Rouge law firms aren't “one size fits all.”  Many clients are simply priced out by the higher costs of doing business with a big Baton Rouge law firm (which can be several hundred dollars per billable hour).  Other clients need lawyers who are more accustomed to dealing with small, individual legal issues.  For most first-time legal clients, there is no need to deal with the extra costs and hassles of hiring big Baton Rouge law firms—a small Baton Rouge law firm will do the same job for less money.

Small and Mid-Sized Firms

If a large Baton Rouge law firm does not sound like the type of firm you want to hire, you can eliminate large firms from your list and begin looking exclusively at smaller firms.  Smaller firms offer several advantages over large ones, particularly for first-time legal clients: you can generally talk to your lawyer more, rather than speaking with a secretary most of the time.

You may also be able to make more varied payment arrangements with smaller Baton Rouge law firms.  Some firms will offer flat-fee services for basic legal problems (such as divorces, bankruptcy, or misdemeanor criminal defense).  A small Baton Rouge law firm may also be willing to accept payments over time rather than requiring full payment upfront.

General Practice Law Firms

A century ago, most law firms were general practices, which is to say, they took cases from all types of clients in all legal areas.  However, as times have changed, legal practices have tended to become more specialized.  While generalist firms make up a lower percentage of Baton Rouge law firms today, they still play a vital role for some types of clients.

If you are a client who anticipates having ongoing legal needs, and you want a lawyer to be able to help with any legal situation that comes up in your life (for instance, if you're currently divorcing, but also want a lawyer to help you write your will later), you may prefer to work consistently with one general practice Baton Rouge law firm rather than hiring different Baton Rouge law firms specializing in several areas.

Specialty Law Firms

Today, more and more law firms are choosing to specialize in just a few areas of law (or even a single area) rather than having a broader focus.  Many clients prefer to have access to lawyers who have extensive experience handling very similar cases, rather than a lawyer who accepts many types of cases.

You can find specialty Baton Rouge law firms practicing in many different areas of law, including criminal defense, bankruptcy, tax law, environmental law, corporate law, real estate law, medical malpractice, and personal injury.  The costs, sizes, and scopes of these practices can vary quite widely, so it is important to do research ahead of time.  You may want to examine a firm's website and reviews from other clients.

The final determination of which law firm to pick is yours, and you may want to make it after consulting with several firms to see which firm feels right to you.  You deserve to have a lawyer/client relationship that puts you at ease, and it is better to shop around at a few firms to find one that suits you instead of picking the first firm you visit regardless of your comfort level.

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