how do i find the right kind of lawyer

How do I choose the right lawyer?

 · How to Choose the Right Lawyer. Area (s) of expertise. You want to make sure that the lawyer you hire has experience in the area of law in which you require assistance. There are ... Potential costs. Legal advice can become quite costly, so it's important that you know how much your lawyer will ...

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 can I find out how good a lawyer is?

 · LegalMatch.com is a fast, free, and confidential online platform to help you find the right lawyer for your case. LegalMatch.com provides attorney-client matching services based on the type of case, type of lawyer needed, and your location. You simply submit your legal issue and you will be matched with a lawyer that can help.

How to choose a lawyer that is right for You?

FindLaw's Choosing the Right Lawyer section provides tips on interviewing and researching a lawyer. You can also find information on the different practice areas of law as well as the requirements for becoming a lawyer. It's important to understand that a good lawyer doesn't guarantee that you'll win your case.

How do I decide what kind of lawyer to get?

Here are a few questions to help you determine what type of law would be a good fit for you:How Much Do You Like to Argue?How Motivated You Are by Money?How Much Control Do You Need Over Your Work Life?How Much Interaction Do You Need With Other People?What Do You Like to Do?

How do I find out if a lawyer is good?

So if you're curious, use these five quick ways to research whether your lawyer is legit:State Bar Profile. Every lawyer who is licensed to practice law in your home state must be listed in your state bar association's directory. ... Google / Search Engines. ... Yelp. ... The Attorney's Own Website. ... Third-Party Rating Groups.

What are some questions you should ask a lawyer?

Questions to Ask Your Lawyer During a Consultation1) What kind of experience do you have with similar cases?2) What would be your strategy for my case?3) Are there any alternatives to going to court?4) What are my possible outcomes?5) Who will actually handle my case?6) What is my role in my case?More items...•

What type of lawyer works the most?

Medical lawyers make one of the highest median wages in the legal field. The job of a medical attorney will vary depending on the entity for which they work. Many attorneys in this field specialize in representing hospitals and medical corporations. Others handle medical malpractice claims or personal injuries.

What should you not say to a lawyer?

9 Taboo Sayings You Should Never Tell Your LawyerI forgot I had an appointment. ... I didn't bring the documents related to my case. ... I have already done some of the work for you. ... My case will be easy money for you. ... I have already spoken with 5 other lawyers. ... Other lawyers don't have my best interests at heart.More items...•

Why do lawyers ignore you?

If your attorney is not experienced or efficient, they may have missed a deadline or made another mistake and aren't willing to confess their error. There could also be some bad news that is entirely outside of the attorney's control.

How do I talk to my lawyer for the first time?

How to Talk to a LawyerBe patient. When you talk to your lawyer, she hears your story for the first time. ... Be prepared. You will need to describe what has happened and what you are hoping your lawyer can do for you. ... Be honest. ... Be specific. ... Be concise. ... Ask questions.

What are 3 questions you should ask a lawyer before hiring?

Below are ten questions to ask your potential lawyer.How long have you practiced law? ... What type of cases do you generally handle? ... Who is your typical client? ... How many cases have you represented that were similar to mine?More items...•

How do I prepare for an attorney interview?

If you are interviewing virtually, all of these tips apply.Do your research. Lawyers are known for being good researchers. ... Be presentable and dress your best. ... Come prepared to ask questions. ... Be personable and show enthusiasm. ... Be genuine. ... Promptly send a thank-you note.

Who is the highest paid lawyer?

Highest paid lawyers: salary by practice areaTax attorney (tax law): $122,000.Corporate lawyer: $115,000.Employment lawyer: $87,000.Real Estate attorney: $86,000.Divorce attorney: $84,000.Immigration attorney: $84,000.Estate attorney: $83,000.Public Defender: $63,000.More items...•

Are all lawyers rich?

You probably won't be rich. "Sure, there are plenty of very well-off lawyers, but that's really just the top layer of the profession. Most lawyers earn more of a solid middle-class income," says Devereux.

What is the highest paying job in the world?

Average Salary: $381,500 The highest paying career in the world is a Neurosurgeon.

What should I look for when choosing a lawyer?

The lawyer will be helping you solve your problems, so the first qualification is that you must feel comfortable enough to tell him or her, honestly and completely, all the facts necessary to resolve your problem.

Are there any practical considerations to keep in mind when choosing a lawyer?

Yes, the lawyer’s area of expertise and prior experience are important. Many states have specialization programs that certify lawyers as specialists in certain types of law.

Where should I start to look for a 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.

Are advertisements a good place to look for a lawyer?

In some ways, yes, ads are useful. However, always be careful about believing everything you read and hear — and nowhere is this truer than with advertisements. Newspaper, telephone directory, radio, television, and Internet ads, along with direct mail, can make you familiar with the names of lawyers who may be appropriate for your legal needs.

What about a local referral service?

Most communities have referral services to help people find lawyers. You might be able to find them under “Lawyer Referral Service” or something similar in your yellow pages. These services usually recommend a lawyer in the area to evaluate a situation.

My new job offers a prepaid legal services plan. What can I expect?

Legal services, like many other things, are often less expensive when bought in bulk. Some employers, labor and credit unions, and other groups have formed “legal insurance” plans. These plans vary. Many cover most, if not all, of the cost of legal consultations, document preparation, and court representation in routine legal matters.

I want to hire a lawyer, but I do not have much money. Where can I find low-cost legal help?

Several legal assistance programs offer inexpensive or free legal services to those in need. Look in the yellow pages under topics such as “legal clinics,” “legal aid,” or “legal advice,” or search online. Most legal aid programs have special guidelines for eligibility, often based on where you live, the size of your family, and your income.

What is Criminal Law?

Criminal law is the body of laws that pertain to crimes. Crimes are actions or behaviors prohibited by state or federal laws. Crimes are punishable by fines, probation, and/or imprisonment. Usually, crimes are categorized as misdemeanors or felonies.

What Do Criminal Lawyers Do?

Criminal cases usually involve a prosecutor, a defendant and a defense attorney. A criminal lawyer is also sometimes called a defense attorney. These lawyers can be hired by the defendant or appointed by the court to represent the defendant.

What Do Civil Lawyers Do?

Civil law is a broad term that encompasses many areas of law, encompassing virtually every non-criminal matter. Civil law usually involves private matters including litigation, or suing another individual, and transactions, such as business contracts.

What Do Family Lawyers Do?

Family law is law that involves family matters. These matters can include marriage, divorce, adoption, child support, custody and establishing parentage. In most cases, marriages do not require a lawyer but a prenuptial agreement should be reviewed by a lawyer.

What Do Probate and Estate Planning Lawyers Do?

Legal matters of probate include probating wills, guardianship, emancipation and conservatorship. Probating a will includes distributing property after a decedent, or individual who passed away, under court supervision.

Where Can I Find the Right Lawyer?

LegalMatch.com is a fast, free, and confidential online platform to help you find the right lawyer for your case. LegalMatch.com provides attorney-client matching services based on the type of case, type of lawyer needed, and your location.

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.

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.

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).

Getting Started

As discussed above, a person will need to find a lawyer who practices not only in their area, but also in the industry and functions of the law that are required by their particular case. Once the search parameters are determined, then it will be possible to start looking for a lawyer to take on their case.

Phone Calls and Initial Consultations

The first step of the consultation usually involves calling or emailing a law firm to set-up a consultation meeting. Almost all lawyers offer a free initial consultation.

What Are Some Questions to Ask a Lawyer?

A person who is preparing to take legal action should know a few things before they start the process. The following is a list of important questions to ask a lawyer, so that the answers will not be a surprise once the case begins. These include:

How Do I Find a Lawyer Near Me?

If you are unsure about your search parameters and need to hire a lawyer immediately, LegalMatch can help.

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.

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 based in New York. She received her JD from the St. John's University School of Law in 2013, and has used her legal training in positions for 32BJ SEIU, the New York Legal Assistance Group, and Disability Rights New York.