how to check the credibility of a lawyer

by Abner Nader 7 min read

How to check the credentials of a lawyer?

Use LawyersReputation.com. Lawyer's Reputation is a site that collections user-submitted reviews about lawyers all over the country. Type the name of the lawyer you're looking for into the boxes on screen and select the appropriate state from the drop-down menu. Click "Search" to view results that match the information you have entered.

How do I know if my lawyer is good?

Oct 05, 2011 · Both of the prior answers are good sources. Another good source is to ask other people who have been in troubles similar to your own. Whether somebody would use an attorney again is a great indicator of how their performance has been. Good luck. More.

How do I find out what type of attorney I have?

Apr 26, 2008 · As a legal recruiter, I have seen far too many legal careers end—or stall out—due to credibility lapses by attorneys. This is more common than you might think. In fact, I would estimate that at least 5-10% of all legal careers experience long-term negative effects because an attorney has done something that is dishonest or not credible ...

How do I find out if a lawyer has a disciplinary issue?

Jun 03, 2009 · Go to http://www.calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_home.jsp, and then click on "Attorney Search" to search for an attorney by name. In addition, most reputable attorneys these days have websites. Review a prospective lawyer's website carefully, ask lots of questions during an initial consultation, and ask around to find out that attorney's reputation in the community.

image

Scott Douglas Marquardt

Both of the prior answers are good sources. Another good source is to ask other people who have been in troubles similar to your own. Whether somebody would use an attorney again is a great indicator of how their performance has been. Good luck.

Cynthia Russell Henley

Credibility? Or the best lawyer for the money you have to spend? You can start here on AVVO searching for lawyers in that area. You can also go to the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Assocation to find lawyers in that area: http://www.tcdla.com/source/members/creferralsearch.cfm?section=lawyerlocator...

How to find a good lawyer?

Knowing an attorney is licensed doesn't guarantee she's good, or a good fit for you. If you want to find a lawyer who has the skills you need, as well as the credentials, ask around. Check with: 1 Friends or business owners who've used a lawyer in the right area of expertise. 2 A local law librarian. 3 Groups with an interest in the relevant area of law. Environmental groups may have lists of lawyers who handle development cases. A divorced men's support group might know the names of good divorce lawyers. 4 Lawyer referral services. Before using one, though, ask what their standards are for listing lawyers.

What happens if the bar association doesn't provide information about discipline?

If the bar association doesn't provide information about discipline, the state government may . The FindLaw website provides links to the right bodies in all 50 states, whether it's the state bar or a government department such as Colorado's Office of Attorney Regulation.

Where does Fraser Sherman live?

He lives in Durham NC with his awesome wife and two wonderful dogs. His website is frasersherman.com.

About Harrison Barnes

Harrison is the founder of BCG Attorney Search and several companies in the legal employment space that collectively gets thousands of attorneys jobs each year. Harrison is widely considered the most successful recruiter in the United States and personally places multiple attorneys most weeks.

Upload Your Resume

Upload your resume to receive matching jobs at top law firms in your inbox.

BCG Reviews

I worked with a recruiter in Houston, and she had so much helpful information about the recruitment process. For example.... Read more >

Popular Articles by Harrison Barnes

What is Bar Reciprocity and Which States Allow You to Waive Into the Bar?

Alexander Miles Medina

The California State Bar's website allows you to look up certain information about attorneys, such as whether they are currently licensed to practice law and whether they have a public record of discipline. Go to http://www.calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_home.jsp, and then click on "Attorney Search" to search for an attorney by name.

Melissa Cari Marsh

You can contact the California State Bar at: www.calbar.org.#N#To search a particular attorney by name or bar number you can go to: http://www.calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_generic.jsp?cid=10114

NOTICE

THIS GUIDE WILL BE UPDATED August 2020. If you are currently using the guide, find the information valuable, or would like to continue having access to it, please send your feedback to library_instruction@byu.edu.

Evaluating Your Sources

In your search for information, you eventually face the challenge of evaluating the resources you have located and selecting those you judge to be most appropriate for your needs. Examine each information source you locate and assess sources using the following criteria:

Evaluating Websites

Websites create an interesting challenge in evaluating credibility and usefulness because no two websites are created the same way. The TAARP method described above can be used, but there are additional things you want to consider when looking at a website:

What is a whois record?

Take a good look at a company's Whois record. Whois is the official registration record of a organization's website. If the website is brand new or set to expire soon, you may be looking at a fly-by-night company. If there is no company address or contact information for a person at the company, it means the domain name is not registered, ...

What does it mean when a company has no address?

If there is no company address or contact information for a person at the company, it means the domain name is not registered, or the owner has omitted their details to protect a domain name's identity .

What is an edgar?

Ask Who? EDGAR stands for Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval and it is the SEC's database of millions of company reports. It keeps records for any company that's required by law to file forms with the SEC. best of all, it is a public access website which means that anyone can search it. Even companies that don't report themselves are often mentioned in other company reports, and you can find information about them using EDGAR's full-text search features. You can also search EDGAR for names of individuals to learn more about company executives.

Is Yelp the same as Yellow Pages?

Yelp is the modern equivalent of the Yellow Pages, except it is entirely online. You can search for reputable businesses in any state with a simple Yelp search. Reviews are written by real-life visitors, often with pictures and detailed commentary about the reliability and reputation of the business.

What does credibility mean?

Credibility is currency, meaning the more you have, the more expansive your influence becomes. Establishing credibility, however, isn’t just a matter of remembering to fact-check your articles. Thought leaders must radiate credibility on every level — not only as content creators, but also as content consumers.

Who is John Hall?

John Hall is the CEO of Influence & Co. , a company that assists individuals and brands in growing their influence through thought leadership and content marketing programs. Influence & Co. , one of the leading providers of high quality expert content to the world’s top publications, is the creator of Contributor Weekly .

image

The State Bar Website

  • Lawyers are licensed state by state. Find your state's bar association online, and then enter the attorney's name in the search function. If he doesn't show up, he's not a licensed attorney. Some bar associations don't let you research lawyer licenses online. The American Bar Association, however, has a web page that links to whichever agency in a given state has the facts. For exam…
See more on careertrend.com

Dig Deeper

  • Knowing your attorney has a current license is good, but it's only a start. There are more questions you should answer to be certain you have the right lawyer: 1. Do they have any disciplinary orders filed against them? 2. Do they carry malpractice insurance? 3. Are they experienced in the area you need help with? A patent attorney, for example, may not be the right person to defend you in …
See more on careertrend.com

Other Resources

  • If the bar association doesn't provide information about discipline, the state government may. The FindLaw website provides links to the right bodies in all 50 states, whether it's the state bar or a government department such as Colorado's Office of Attorney Regulation. The Nolo legal website offers a directory of attorneys by legal specialty. The site says every lawyer listed is licensed an…
See more on careertrend.com

Personal Recommendations

  • Knowing an attorney is licensed doesn't guarantee she's good, or a good fit for you. If you want to find a lawyer who has the skills you need, as well as the credentials, ask around. Check with: 1. Friends or business owners who've used a lawyer in the right area of expertise. 2. A local law librarian. 3. Groups with an interest in the relevant are...
See more on careertrend.com