how do i find the best lawyer

• Reading news articles that mention firm names;
• Flipping through the Yellow Pages of a phone book;
• Taking down the number of a firm or lawyer from public transportation advertisements, television commercials, or billboards;
• Conducting an online search;
• Calling or visiting the website of their local bar association;
• Using an attorney referral service; and/or
• Asking legal aid services or non-profit organizations that provide legal contact information for free.

Full Answer

How to find an excellent lawyer?

There are many ways to find a reliable lawyer. One of the best is a recommendation from a trusted friend, relative, or business associate. Be aware, however, that each legal case is different and that a lawyer who is right for someone else may not suit you or your legal problem.

How do you search for a lawyer?

One of the best ways to know if an attorney is right for you are reviews. Read what previous clients have said about specific attorneys and their experiences. Once you choose an attorney to contact, read all the reviews about that particular lawyer to get an idea of how they may handle your case and interact with you.

Where can you find a lawyer?

The American Bar Association (ABA) recommends starting looking for a lawyer through a trusted friend, relative, or business associate. When obtaining a recommendation from a …

How to sue your lawyer?

Lawyers.com is an excellent starting point as you look to find a successful resolution to your legal challenge. We make it easy to search for attorneys by location and practice area and offer critical advantages to simplify the process of selecting the correct attorney for you. In just a few moments, you can develop a detailed perspective on the firms that handle issues like yours …

How to Find the Right Lawyer

Locating a good lawyer who can efficiently help with your particular problem may not be easy. Don't expect to locate a good lawyer by simply looking in the phone book or reading an advertisement. There's not enough information in these sources to help you make a valid judgment.

Consider a Specialist

Most lawyers specialize in certain areas, and even a so-called "general practitioner" may not know that much about the particular area of your concern.

Interview the Prospective Lawyers

When you get the names of several good prospects, the next step is to talk to each personally. If you outline your needs in advance, many lawyers will be willing to meet to you for a half-hour or so at no charge so that you can size them up and make an informed decision.

Further Resources

For more tips on choosing and working with a lawyer, see the eBook The Lawsuit Survival Guide: A Client's Companion to Litigation, by Joseph Matthews (Nolo).

Tap Your Network

Ask around among your family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances to see if they know of any attorneys they could recommend. Personal references can be some of the most reliable references you will find.

Do Some Research

You can run an attorney search at databases such as Avvo and Martindale Hubbell, which provide information such as practice areas, location, disciplinary records, and lawyer reviews.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Lawyer

Now that you have some attorney options, it’s time to choose. To get you started, here’s a list of questions to ask an attorney before hiring them:

More Considerations When Hiring a Lawyer

One way to get a feel for an attorney’s practice is to be observant when you go for your first consultation.

Expert Q&A

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Tips

Consider firing your attorney for doing any of the following: missing filing or court dates, refusing to give you updates on the status of your case, not answering phone calls and emails, and not being honest and forthright when you ask questions.

About This Article

This article was co-authored by Srabone Monir, JD. Srabone Monir, Esq., is an Attorney for the 32BJ chapter of the Service Employees International Union. She received her JD from the St. John's University School of Law in 2013. She is also a VA Accredited Attorney as of 2015 and is licensed to practice law in New Jersey and in New York.

Top 5 practice areas for attorneys

Avvo attorneys handle cases in over 120 practice areas, including divorce, criminal defense, and bankruptcy.

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Location is an important factor in looking for a lawyer to represent you. Since your issue will likely depend on state or local laws and regulations, you will want an attorney who understands the regulations for your location. On the practical side, you will also want a lawyer who has an office that is convenient for you to travel to.

Common payments accepted by attorneys

Consultation Fee: A lawyer may charge for you first consultation meeting, but be sure you know the charges before you hire a lawyer. Ask about Consultation fees before you make an appointment, and how the fee is calculated (i.e. by the hour, half-hour, or otherwise).

Start by getting a recommendation

Obtaining personal referrals is usually the best place to begin when searching for a lawyer with a proven track record—and it’ll also help you avoid those that haven’t been so successful.

View attorney advertisements with a healthy dose of skepticism

While advertisements can help you survey the legal landscape, keep in mind that they are one-sided and biased. Be wary about everything you read and hear, especially advertisements.

Interview your potential attorneys

Once you’ve narrowed down a list of a few potential attorneys in an appropriate practice area, set up a time for a phone call or in-person meeting. Many lawyers offer free consultations; in addition to gauging their enthusiasm and availability to handle your legal matter, some questions you should ask may include:

Know your monetary limits

Part of choosing the right lawyer is setting a budget beforehand and sticking to it. You won’t be able to enjoy winning your case if you have a debt to deal with in the aftermath. Even if the lawyer you want to work with is outside of your budget, you can always ask them to recommend someone within the same practice area and in your price range.

Trust your gut

It can be quite discouraging to go through the process of choosing a lawyer only to realize that you don’t mesh well together or that they aren’t effectively attending to your legal needs.

Why Use Lawyers.com to Find a Lawyer?

Lawyers.com is an excellent starting point as you look to find a successful resolution to your legal challenge. We make it easy to search for attorneys by location and practice area and offer critical advantages to simplify the process of selecting the correct attorney for you.

What to consider when hiring a lawyer

Whatever your particular legal needs might be, it is likely that many attorneys have the education, skill and experience to serve you effectively. However, finding the right fit might require you to review the credentials of several lawyers and examine several different considerations.

How to Find The Right Lawyer

Consider A Specialist

Interview The Prospective Lawyers

• When you get the names of several good prospects, the next step is to talk to each personally. If you outline your needs in advance, many lawyers will be willing to meet to you for a half-hour or so at no charge so that you can size them up and make ...

See more on nolo.com

Further Resources