Personal Lawyers and
Top Rated Personal Attorneys

What is a Lawyer?

An attorney at law, also called a lawyer or an attorney, is an individual who is professionally licensed to practice law in a certain state or states or in federal courts. Practicing law, in general, means providing legal advice and representing clients in court.

A lawyer performs many tasks and provides numerous services in their everyday work. There are some lawyers who specialize in one or a few areas of the law.

There are also some lawyers who practice in a wide variety of legal areas. Lawyers may work by themselves in a solo practice, with a partner, or in a group, called a law firm.

Only lawyers are permitted to practice law. There are other professionals who are permitted to assist lawyers in their practices, including paralegals and notaries public.

Paralegals are individuals with training that allows them to assist lawyers with their daily tasks. This may include helping with document drafting, research, and writing.

A notary public assists with authenticating documents by notarizing them. Documents that notiaries authenticate typically include:

• Wills;
• Contracts;
• Deeds;
• Affidavits; and
• Other documents which require certification.

It is important to be aware that neither paralegals nor notaries public are attorneys and they cannot practice law. If one of these professionals offers anyone services as a lawyer, they should decline and report the professional to the state bar for the unauthorized practice of law.

What is a Personal Lawyer?

A personal lawyer is a lawyer that an individual hires to assist them with their legal needs. An individual may hire a general practice personal lawyer who could help them with many different types of legal issues. Alternatively, they may hire a personal attorney for each specific legal issue they have.

What Types of Cases do Personal Attorneys Handle?

There are laws that govern nearly every aspect of life. These laws are divided into categories.

In many cases, an attorney will practice in one of these areas, although many lawyers practice in many of these areas of law.

Although not a comprehensive or all-inclusive list, general practice areas of law include:

• Family law: This area of law governs various family-related conflicts and issues, including:
  • divorce;
  • child custody and visitation,
  • child support; and
  • other topics;
• Employment law: This area of law governs various work-related disputes, including:
  • hour and wage claims;
  • wrongful termination;
  • hostile work environments;
  • discrimination; and
  • other issues;
• Criminal law: This area of law governs criminal offenses, including:
  • theft crimes;
  • assault and battery;
  • homicide; and
  • other crimes;
• Real estate law: Real estate law governs issues involving:
  • property sales and transfers;
  • Landlord and tenant issues; and
  • other aspects related to property;
• Business law: Business law governs a wide range of subjects, including:
  • contracts between businesses;
  • business disputes; and
  • other business activities;
• Immigration law: This body of laws governs:
  • visas;
  • citizenship;
  • removal or deportation from the country, and
  • other immigration issues;
• Personal injury law: This is a broad practice area that governs various issues, including:
  • negligence claims;
  • slip and fall cases;
  • car accidents; and
  • other instances where an individual suffers injury or harm;
• Wills, trusts, and estates: This area of law involves issues such as:
  • distribution of property after an individual’s passing through their will;
  • creation and management of trusts; and
  • estate planning;
• Bankruptcy law: This area of law governs:
  • debts;
  • consumer and business bankruptcy;
  • consumer credit; and
  • certain tax issues;
• Government law: This area of law governs many public issues, including:
  • schools and education;
  • social security;
  • governmental discrimination; and
  • other issues;
• Defective product law: These laws govern cases where consumers are harmed, injured, or killed by defective products. It may also govern other issues, such as warranties and defective services; and
• Intellectual property law: This area of law governs legal issues, including:
  • trademarks;
  • copyrights; and
  • other protections for non-tangible assets.

When an individual is choosing a lawyer, they will typically want to first consider which area of law their issue or dispute falls under. An individual can then locate a lawyer who practices specifically in that area or a lawyer who practices in multiple areas of law.

What Should I Look for in a Personal Lawyer?

When an individual is seeking the assistance of a personal lawyer, or personal counsel, there are several factors they may wish to consider, including:

• Whether the individual needs a specialist lawyer or a general practitioner;
• Whether the attorney charges a flat rate or uses a contingency fee structure;
• Which state bar(s) the lawyer is registered in, which is important if the legal issue involves multiple state laws;
• The lawyer’s performance or track record in court;
• How long the lawyer has been practicing; and
• Whether the lawyer has been disciplined for ethical or professional violations.

For the most part, an individual’s choice of personal attorney will be dictated mostly by their needs as well as the issue they need resolved. For example, if an individual has a criminal law issue, they will need an attorney experienced in criminal law.

If, however, there are other issues involved in the case, such as immigration issues, an individual will need a lawyer who is experienced in both criminal law and immigration law.

How Do I Find a Personal Lawyer for My Case?

There are many different ways an individual can begin their search for a personal lawyer, including:

• Asking friends or family members for recommendations;
• Reading news articles that mention law firm names;
• Read through the pages of a phone book;
• Writing down the number of a firm or lawyer from:
  • public transportation advertisements;
  • television commercials; or
  • billboards;
• Conducting an online search;
• Calling or visiting the website of the local state bar association;
• Using an attorney referral service; and
• Asking non-profit organizations or legal aid services that provide legal contact information for free.

Although it may seem convenient to search online for a “personal lawyer near me” or a “personal attorney near me,” an individual may end up with a long list of results that may or may not be accurate. LegalMatch is an excellent online resource that helps individuals find the personal attorney they need.

Using LegalMatch online, an individual can enter information about their legal issue in about 15 minutes. This information will be passed along to pre-screened lawyers in their area who work in the area of law their case involves.

Within approximately 24 hours, the individual will receive communications from LegalMatch lawyers who believe they can help with the case. The individual can choose the lawyer or lawyers who they think best fits their needs and budget.

Many lawyers offer a free initial consultation. This is an initial meeting for the potential client to provide more information about their legal issue and for the attorney to determine if they will be able to represent the individual.

It is important for an individual to interview lawyers and determine who they are most comfortable sharing their personal information with. Many legal cases require an individual to divulge personal details they may not normally share with others.

Do I Need a Personal Lawyer?

If you have a legal issue or dispute, it may be helpful to consult with a personal lawyer. Having a personal lawyer can provide you with peace of mind that your issue will be handled professionally and resolved in the best manner possible.