It can be difficult enough deciding to hire a maritime lawyer much less researching them. It’s frustrating trying to find the right maritime attorney, one that focuses on maritime law, knows the Jones Act and general maritime law intimately, and has had years of experience handling these specific types of cases.
Not only are there dozens and dozens of “maritime” law firms listed online but many of them appear maritime-focused, making your choice even more difficult. However, many times these law firms aren’t truly focused on maritime law, and instead, they actually practice many different and unrelated types of law.
I’ll show you how you can determine whether or not a law firm is actually maritime-focused. By using the tips below, you’ll be able to start crossing off those numerous law firms on your list and find the one that is right for you.
After you’ve been injured offshore, you may use Google to search terms such as “New Orleans maritime attorneys” or “Louisiana Jones Act lawyers” depending on where you’re located. The law firms that show up in the search results will be those that use these maritime-related terms on their site. Upon first glance at these sites, it may appear as if these law firms are maritime-focused.
Usually, there aren’t any other practice areas listed and they only talk about maritime cases and maritime injuries. One example is the site offshoreinjuryfirm.com. For all intents and purposes, this firm looks to be a maritime law firm. This entire site seems geared toward maritime law, the Jones Act, and handling offshore injury cases.
However, if you were to Google the maritime law firm name, you’d see other websites show up for that name. Clicking on the top listing, you’d soon see that the so-perceived maritime law firm actually practices over a dozen different types of law.
When researching maritime attorneys online, you want to make sure that your Jones Act attorney really focuses exclusively on Jones Act cases and can effectively and efficiently handle your maritime case.
While there isn’t anything technically wrong with law firms dedicating sites to specific practice areas, we do believe it makes your job more difficult since you do not have all of the information you need to make an educated decision. It makes a difference whether or not a law firm practices one area of law versus twelve, and you deserve to know this important factor when putting your future in the hands of another.
Find an Attorney through Referrals
Referrals are one of the best ways to find an attorney. When a seaman has been injured, he or she may contact any other friends or co-workers who have also been injured at sea and ask who they recommend for a lawyer.
It is important to note, however, that everybody is different. Just because a friend liked a particular maritime lawyer does not mean that everyone will like him or her. Further, if you have an attorney for other legal issues, ask for a referral to a maritime attorney.
Find an Attorney through Online Directories
People search online for everything and lawyers are no exception. Many websites, such Martindale Hubbell, offer directories that include thousands of lawyers.
These directories can be narrowed down by:
Peer reviews are also available for many attorneys.
Find an Attorney by Reading Client Testimonials
Many attorneys allow past clients to provide testimonials and post them on their websites. Written and video clients testimonials can help get an idea of the quality of service provided by the attorney. So if you’re curious how to find a good lawyer for your case, you may consider not only lawyers your friends or families have used, but consider the experiences relayed by others via client testimonials.
Contacting a Louisiana Maritime Attorney
Injured seamen should seek legal advice from a Louisiana maritime attorney if they are pursuing a Jones Act claim against a negligent employer responsible for their injuries. Call The Young Firm at 504-680-4100 for a free consultation regarding your case. Consider these tips to find a good lawyer and set up your consultation to determine if it’s a good fit for your case.
If you need any help researching maritime law firms online or have any questions about whether or not a law firm is right for you, give us a call or chat with our support staff. We’d be more than happy to show you more researching techniques to help you make your decision.
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