Everyone has the right to be safe and experience fair treatment regardless of race, gender, disability, national origin or religion. Equal treatment should come from all levels of government in the country, or levels of authority in the community. Those are civil rights, guaranteed by the First Amendment, and an important part of American democracy. When those rights are violated, you should seek legal representation. Choosing a civil rights attorney in Los Angeles isn’t difficult when you know what you need. Here is some advice on how to choose an attorney for your civil rights case.
Do you know exactly what a civil rights attorney does?
There are different kinds of civil rights violations that go to complaint, and different attorneys specialize in different areas. Consider your complaint, and ask yourself what attorney specialization it represents. As a citizen you have specific rights and freedoms that involve speech, or assembly or for procedural due process at the national, state, municipality or organizational level. A civil rights attorney in Los Angeles understands the situation in Los Angeles, and choosing the right one with clear knowledge and understanding will make a big difference towards a successful outcome.
Proper understanding of the case is important when talking with and choosing your attorney. In a lot of cases people don’t always realize just how much their rights have been violated or disrespected because they don’t know the law themselves. It is the job of the attorney and the judges to know, and awards often come down to which legal team proved their point the best. Choosing a civil rights attorney in Los Angeles means looking for many specific points and talking to different lawyers to get a feel for who the best one for your case will be.
Where to look
Begin by looking online or through the telephone book and other local advertising sources. Make a list of civil rights attorneys in Los Angeles and what they specialize in. Go with your instinct when deciding who to contact for consultation. Visit websites and call the offices to get a feel for how each firm does business.
You can also find recommendations by reading testimonials or asking for them. Talk to your friends, co-workers, and family members, and ask if they have had experience with the civil rights attorneys on your short list. Ask if they have others to recommend. Then make arrangements to meet the civil rights attorneys in Los Angeles who might be best for you.
How should you prepare?
Before meeting with the attorney, make some notes for yourself. Write down all memories of the incident and try to put them in the order that they happened. List names, addresses and other contact information of the people involved. Make notes and fill in the blanks of your memory of the incident. Keep it concise and as clear as possible. Finally end with a statement of the result that you are looking for and how you hope the attorney can help. This will make a difference to your understanding of what you need and what you are looking for and will make it easier to choose the civil rights attorney in Los Angeles who shares your thoughts.
From there, be sure that you have all the documents and paperwork that show your story. Keep them safe. This may include witness statements, incident reports, contracts, financial documents, photographs or other materials. Gathering them all beforehand will save a lot of time.
Ask questions
Before you choose a civil rights attorney in Los Angeles, finally, you will need to ask a lot of questions about how they work, their thoughts on your case, how long they think it might take to reach a result and how they will charge you. Don’t let the thought of having to pay your attorneys put you off hiring one. Consultations are usually free, and often attorneys don’t charge unless they have a favorable outcome. However, be sure to discuss fees and see a contract before you proceed.
If the case goes forward, you and your attorney may be spending a lot of time together. Be sure that you choose a civil rights attorney in Los Angeles who can relate to you with empathy, and who cares about your case.