Difference Between a Public Adjuster vs. Lawyer Difference Between a Public Adjuster vs. Lawyer

After being arrested in Illinois, preparing for trial can be one of the most intimidating experiences of your life. It makes sense that in these harrowing moments, you would want the counsel of an experienced and talented criminal defense attorney, but how do you know if you found the attorney who is right for you? You may also be asking yourself what is the difference between a public adjuster vs. lawyer.

Fortunately, there is a checklist that will help you determine if a lawyer is right for you and your case. You can also decide if the differences between a public adjuster vs lawyer makes a difference for you. However, know that even a law professional who ticks all the necessary boxes might not be perfect for you personally. Therefore, while you can use the following points to help you narrow down a potential list, make sure that you are comfortable with any public adjuster or lawyer you eventually hire.

Experience

The first thing any decent lawyer or public adjuster should have before going to bat for you is experience. However, they need to have the right expertise. Most attorneys, even criminal defense attorneys, will have specializations. For example, you might have one lawyer with significant experience in drug cases, while another has a practice dedicated to DUI cases. Make sure that whoever you hire has the skills and experience with your specific type of situation. After all, it is your life on the line, not theirs. And while not always the case, keep in mind that one difference between a public adjuster vs. lawyer is that many public adjusters are just starting out while lawyers who are part of a firm often have much more trial experience. 

Resources

While you can have a successful lawyer who operates with bare minimum resources, the best attorneys understand that you are typically only as good as the information and team you surround yourself with. Therefore, it is more beneficial for you to hire an attorney who works for a firm rather than themselves. Trials require significant paperwork, research and investigating. Even the most well-intentioned attorney is likely not capable of performing everything alone, especially for a potentially difficult and lengthy criminal trial. Therefore, when you look for a lawyer, check their experience, and make sure that they have access to a team.

Confidence and References

Last, you want to find an attorney who is confident and has references to back it up. However, it should be noted that confidence is different from ego. An egotistical lawyer may be enthusiastic and promise you specific results. While that might be reassuring, no attorney should guarantee any type of outcome. However, most confident lawyers will provide you with statistics and reassure you that they will do the best they can with the evidence they find. In addition to not over-promising, these lawyers will likely have references that you can check to verify their abilities and experience.

While a criminal trial can be intimidating, don’t rush to pick an attorney. If you are considering the difference between a public adjuster vs. lawyer, contact Childress Loucks & Plunkett to set up a free and confidential consultation to find out how we can help.