Both work for you, not the carrier, but they solve different problems. Public adjuster. A licensed professional who handles first-party property claims (your home, your business property) for a fee, usually 10 to 15 percent of the settlement. They are useful when the dispute is about the dollar value of the loss (the carrier estimates $30,000, you believe the actual cost is $80,000). They are not lawyers and cannot file lawsuits. Attorney. A licensed lawyer. Useful when the dispute is about whether coverage applies at all, when the carrier has denied a claim and you believe in bad faith, or when the case is heading toward litigation. Many handle first-party property cases on contingency in states with bad faith remedies. What we suggest. For straightforward valuation disputes, public adjuster first. For coverage denials, attorney consultation first. Many situations need neither and can be resolved through documentation and follow-up with the carrier directly.