Hiring a Lawyer in Pennsylvania or New Jersey: A Before, During and After Checklist

Most people hire a lawyer on the worst day of a hard month: right after a crash, a termination, a denial letter, or a partner walking out with the client list. Decisions made in that state tend to be rushed, and rushed decisions cost money and sometimes the claim itself. Pennsylvania and New Jersey both enforce strict filing deadlines, and a weak start is hard to repair.

This checklist walks you through what to do before you hire while your case is active and after it ends. It applies whether you are dealing with a personal injury claim, workplace discrimination, a denied insurance claim, a business dispute, a rowhome property problem, or a confidential sexual assault matter.

Before You Hire: Protect the Claim and Vet the Firm

Preserve evidence and calendar your deadlines

Before any consultation, secure what you can. Evidence disappears quickly, and deadlines run whether or not you have counsel.

• Photos and video: injuries, vehicle damage, hazards, water intrusion, cracked foundations or party wall damage, with dates visible.

• Documents: denial letters, reservation of rights letters, performance reviews, emails, texts, contracts, operating agreements, and partnership agreements.

• Medical records: keep every visit, bill, and prescription in one folder.

• Witness details: names and phone numbers while memories are fresh.

• Deadlines: note the statute of limitations that may apply. Employment claims can carry short administrative windows (for example, 180 days to file with the PHRC under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act), and injury and contract claims have their own limits.

Vet the firm, not just the advertising

Awards and directory listings are a starting point, not proof of fit. Confirm the basics yourself.

• Check the attorney's license and disciplinary history with the state disciplinary authority in Pennsylvania or New Jersey.

• Ask whether the attorney regularly handles your type of case in your county or court, such as Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, or Chester County, or South and Central Jersey.

• Ask who will actually work on your file and who you will talk to when you call.

• Ask for a realistic outline of the process and timeline, not a promised result.

No ethical lawyer can guarantee an outcome. If a firm promises one in the first meeting, treat it as a warning sign.

At the Engagement: Understand the Fee Agreement

Read the fee agreement before you sign, and ask for time to review it. Many injury and employment cases run on contingency fees, where the firm is paid a percentage of a recovery. New Jersey sets limits on contingent fees under Court Rule 1:21-7, so ask how the rule applies to your matter. Business litigation is more often hourly or hybrid.

Get clear written answers to these questions:

1. What percentage applies, and is it calculated before or after costs are deducted?

2. Who advances costs such as filing fees, experts, and depositions, and are they repaid if you lose?

3. Does the percentage change if the case goes to trial or appeal?

4. What is the scope of the engagement? Does it cover an appeal or a separate bad faith claim against an insurer?

5. How will you receive billing statements or case updates?

During the Case: Your Responsibilities

A good lawyer drives the strategy, but your conduct can strengthen or damage the claim. Stay disciplined in these areas:

• Limit communication with adversaries. Do not give recorded statements to an insurance adjuster or discuss the matter with your employer, a former partner, or a neighbor without talking to your attorney first.

• Be careful on social media. Posts about activities, finances, or the dispute can be used against you.

• Follow medical advice. Gaps in treatment give insurers an argument that you were not seriously hurt.

• Keep a running log. Record symptoms, missed work, harassment incidents, repair costs, and conversations with dates.

• Respond to your lawyer quickly. Discovery requests and court deadlines are short.

• Disclose everything. Prior injuries, past complaints, or a weak spot in the story are far better raised early than discovered by the other side.

If you are a survivor of sexual assault, ask up front how confidentiality will be handled, including whether filings can proceed under a pseudonym and how your records will be protected.

Settlement Decisions: Questions to Ask Before You Say Yes

Any offer should come with a written breakdown. Ask what you will net after fees, costs, and medical liens; whether the offer includes confidentiality or non-disparagement terms; and what rights you are releasing. For insurance disputes, ask whether a settlement would end a potential bad faith claim. For business disputes, ask how tax treatment and ongoing obligations are affected.

After the Case: Close Out Properly

• Get a final written accounting of fees, costs, and the distribution of funds.

• Confirm that medical liens and any reimbursement claims have been resolved.

• Request a copy of your complete file, and ask how long the firm retains it.

• Keep the settlement agreement or judgment, and calendar any continuing obligations.

• For employment matters, confirm the status of references, benefits, and any protection against retaliation.

• For property and business matters, confirm that repairs, recorded documents, or amended agreements are actually in place.

The Takeaway

The strongest clients are organized, honest, and informed. Preserve evidence, verify the lawyer, understand the fee agreement, protect your case during the process, and do not sign off at the end until the money and paperwork are fully accounted for. Do these things and you reduce the risk of avoidable mistakes, whatever the outcome of your claim.