New Mexico has plenty of lawyers. When you are looking for a workers’ compensation attorney to help you obtain the benefits you need and deserve, how do you decide which one to hire? It’s not as if you hire lawyers, much less workers’ compensation lawyers, on a regular basis.
When you are doing your research or meeting with attorneys, here are four important things to look for and questions to ask:
- Do they specialize in workers’ compensation law? Workers’ compensation is an extremely specialized and complicated area of the law. It has its own laws, rules and procedures, even its own court system. Even lawyers who may be great in other aspects of the law may not have the knowledge and skill to navigate the unique issues that arise in workers compensation matters. Look for a lawyer who is a Board Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist. This certification helps consumers identify lawyers who have extensive experience and skill in the field of workers’ compensation law.
- Do they represent workers exclusively? There are lawyers who represent employers in workers’ compensation cases as well as attorneys who represent both workers and employers. You want a lawyer who fights for the rights of workers exclusively. Your lawyer should have a passion and commitment to helping injured workers; he should dedicate his time and energies to making sure that they get what they are entitled to and that workers and their families receive the help they need.
- Do they listen to you, seem to understand your concerns, and take the time to answer your questions? When you meet with a lawyer, you can tell a lot about them by the way they treat you in that first meeting. You will be counting on your lawyer to not only fight for you, but to also be there for you when you have a question. Your lawyer should have a full understanding of you situation, your needs and your concerns; that understanding can only come by spending time with you and listening attentively to what you have to say. If you meet with a paralegal or staff member rather than a lawyer, or if a lawyer seems to hurrying you out the door, that should make you think twice as to whether the lawyer can be counted on to be there for you when you need them.
- Ask for References. Your workers’ compensation lawyer is there to get the job done for you. Former clients will be able to tell you whether the lawyer did that, whether they were honest and trustworthy, and whether they would recommend that lawyer to friends and relatives who need a workers’ compensation lawyer.
The Law Offices of Jeffrey C. Brown: Fighting for New Mexico Workers
We know how hard you work, and we’ll work just as hard for you. Call the Law Offices of Jeffrey C. Brown & Derek Thompson today at (505) 275-6600 or fill out our online form to arrange for your free initial consultation to discuss your workers’ compensation matter. We look forward to helping you get back on your feet, and back to work.
This website has been prepared by the Law Offices of Jeffrey C. Brown for informational purposes only and does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice from an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.