If you have diverse legal needs or think you may have such needs in the future, you would do well to consider a full-service law firm when you begin your search for the perfect attorney for you. But what exactly is a full-service law firm? Simply put, it is a firm large enough to attract and keep superior attorneys who have pursued a variety of specific academic educations and consequently have different legal backgrounds and experience. This multiplicity of expertise can serve you well.
Remember, the primary purpose of a law firm is to render legal services, including advice, counseling, advocacy, and representation to its clients. Therefore, the lawyers in that firm must have the education, knowledge, background, and skill to competently do their jobs.
Multiple Specialty Areas
The law impacts virtually every area of your life in one way or another. In fact, there is no such thing as “the law” per se. Rather, there’s a huge body of statutes, ordinances, regulations, etc. with which you must comply. No one person, no matter how intelligent or dedicated, can know everything about every area of the law.
While a solo practitioner or boutique law firm likely has experience in one or two areas of the law, a large full-service law firm has extensive experience in numerous areas of the law. Consequently, you can think of a full-service firm as one that provides you with a variety of boutique firms, all under one roof, so to speak. For instance, a full-service firm like the Tully Rinckey professionals can offer you the legal expertise you need in the following areas:
- Business law
- Criminal law
- Employment law
- Estate planning and elder law
- Family and matrimonial law
- Civil litigation
- Municipal law
- Real estate and litigation
- Special education law
Extensive Staff
Full-service law firms can range in size from several dozen lawyers and employees such as paralegals, administrative staff, librarians, and other support staff to several thousand lawyers and employees. While such a large organization may seem intimidating at first, it actually affords you your best opportunity of meeting all your various legal needs in a timely, cost-efficient manner. Besides, you will not be interacting with everyone at the firm. You will interact with your own attorney and possibly his or her paralegal and/or legal assistant. You will get to know these people well, and they will get to know you just as well. The other personnel will remain in the background, doing their jobs to best serve your interests in a seamless fashion.
Extensive Resources
In addition to having the attorneys and other personnel necessary to fully address your legal needs, a large full-service law firm also has the resources, both financial and otherwise, to fully serve your best interests. For instance, if you are involved in a personal injury lawsuit for which you likely will have a contingency fee arrangement, paying legal fees only when your attorney settles your case or successfully concludes its trial, the law firm for which (s)he works must have the financial resources to hire investigators, expert witnesses, etc. on your behalf.
Multiple Locations
If you are a business owner, your business may well extend to several cities or states. A large full-service law firm like Tully Rinckey also maintains numerous locations throughout the country, making it highly convenient for you to have local legal representation everywhere your business operates. This can serve you especially well if you become involved in some type of business litigation. An attorney who thoroughly knows his or her way around the local courts is far more effective than one who does not.
Choosing the right law firm can make the difference between a successful outcome and a missed opportunity. A full-service firm gives you many more options and ways to best serve your legal needs.