How to Find a Lawyer

Finding a good lawyer is something most people don't think of until they actually need one.  Unfortunately, most of the things that cause a person to seek out a personal attorney are not happy ones and the stress of trying to find a lawyer does not help the situation.  


Most people begin the search for an attorney when they are facing a divorce, an injury due to an accident at work, a car accident resulting in broken bones, whiplash or worse, or a suit filed against them.  Occasionally, folks may seek legal advice for happier occasions such as receiving an inheritance, setting up a trust or will, or even starting a business or filing a trademark, copyright, or patent.


No matter what the reason you are searching for a lawyer, finding a good one is important.  What are the best and worst ways to find yourself legal representation?  I asked a practicing lawyer friend of mine for a few tips, and here is what he told me:


Don't choose your lawyer based on TV commercials or big Yellow Pages ads.  Neither of these things have any bearing on how good an attorney is, only on how much they are willing to spend on advertising.  Also, be aware that many of the "big name" lawyers rarely work with clients - they have a team of lawyers under them that do most of the work.


Do ask around.  Ask your friends, your colleagues, your relatives who they have used and liked. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find out about that local jem who doesn't even need to advertise.


Be sure to interview whoever you are considering and trust your gut feeling when you are meeting with him or her and notice the little details. Did s/he return your phone call promptly?  How easy was it to schedule an appointment?  Be sure to ask for a timeline of your issue, so you have an idea of how long to expect the process to take.  Ask how the lawyer likes clients to contact him/her and how quickly calls are returned.


Also, be sure to ask the lawyer if you really need to hire him/her to solve your problem.  Some issues are able to be resolved without involving a lawyer. A simple will may be easily set up using a purchased program and then just looked over by a lawyer for any prospective problems. Conversely, seemingly simple issues may be more involved than you realize.  A question such as "What can I claim?" after an accident, may seem simple but have many determining factors.  A good lawyer will give you a good idea of whether or not you really need legal council and how involved your issue is.  That should take place during the consultation and there shouldn't be a charge for that.


Hopefully, you will never face many of these issues. But if you do, you are now armed with a few tips to help you navigate the legal waters a little more smoothly.