what is the best way to find a lawyer

by Prof. Liliana Harris DVM 9 min read

How to Find a Good Lawyer

  • Conducting Candidate Interviews. One of the best ways to assess a lawyer’s legal ability is by interviewing them. Most...
  • Asking Other Attorneys. Lawyers know the skill and reputation of other lawyers. Attorneys may be able to provide...
  • Conducting a Background Check. Before hiring any lawyer, contact the lawyer disciplinary agency in your state...

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.Sep 9, 2019

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. Are advertisements a good place to look for a lawyer? In some ways, yes, ads are useful.

How do you search for a lawyer?

Jun 25, 2019 · How to Find a Good Lawyer Conducting Candidate Interviews. One of the best ways to assess a lawyer’s legal ability is by interviewing them. Most... Asking Other Attorneys. Lawyers know the skill and reputation of other lawyers. Attorneys may be able to provide... Conducting a Background Check. ...

How to find the right lawyer for your needs?

It’s usually a good idea to find a lawyer located in your geographical area. Besides legal knowledge of state and local laws, lawyers also have practical local knowledge. Lawyers in specific cities or towns will also have connections to helpful agencies in that city, which will expedite the process of resolving your issue.

How to pick an attorney?

Jul 21, 2021 · Ready to find a lawyer? Here are some ways to find competent legal assistance: Ask Your Friends and Family Ask your family and other close contacts who you know have hired an attorney for their...

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What is the best site to find a lawyer?

8 Of The Most Popular Lawyer Review Sites In 2020Google lawyer reviews. Google has quickly become a giant contributor in the world of online reviews. ... Yelp. Yelp isn't just for finding the best pizza joint in town. ... Avvo. ... Martindale–Hubbell. ... Lawyers.com. ... Better Business Bureau. ... 7. Facebook. ... NOLO.Oct 14, 2021

What five ways exist to help find a lawyer?

How to Find Legal Help When You Can't Afford a LawyerContact the city courthouse.Seek free lawyer consultations.Look to legal aid societies.Visit a law school.Contact your county or state bar association.Go to small claims court.Apr 29, 2020

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?Dec 11, 2019

What source online would you think is the most reliable for finding a quality lawyer?

Best for Finding a Lawyer FindLaw Every legal issue requires a different type of attorney and the best place to find them all is FindLaw. The online directory lists hundreds of U.S. attorneys in 119 specific areas of law, making it easy to find the most qualified practitioner for your case.

What is it called when you can't afford a lawyer?

When a court decides someone is "indigent" - with few assets and no funds to pay an attorney - generally either a private lawyer will be appointed by the court and paid with county funds, or a public defender program will be appointed to represent the person.

How do you know 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.Sep 18, 2014

What type of lawyers are the happiest?

The happiest attorneys, therefore, are those who experience a cultural fit. This means they work for firms where they are free to act independently, do work that matters to them and collaborate on teams with people who complement their personality and communication style.

What is the easiest law to practice?

However, there are many sectors of law which are less stressful:Real estate law.Intellectual property law.High Street family law.Government lawyers.Working In-House.Jul 9, 2021

Do you need to be super smart to be a lawyer?

You can become a lawyer if you are academically “smart” enough and have the ability to understand the law and its concepts. You will also require the work ethic to read and interpret a vast amount of information. Getting through law school requires the ability to learn and process information.

What is the best site for legal documents?

Best Legal Document Companies:RankNameLearn More1.FindLegalForms.comLearn More2.NoloLearn More3.LegalZoomLearn More4.LawTradesLearn More7 more rows•Feb 23, 2022

Is LegalShield a good deal?

If you want the security of knowing that you can quickly get a response from a lawyer if you ever need it, LegalShield is a good choice. For a reasonable monthly fee, you can access a lawyer at a leading law firm and get targeted help on specific problem areas for small businesses, such as debt collection.Sep 17, 2020

Is there an alternative to LegalShield?

The Data Alliance, adsquare Data Alliance, Lotame, and Oracle Datalogix are the top competitors and alternatives to LegalShield.

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.

What is legal aid?

If you need a lawyer but cannot afford one, you can contact your local legal aid office, an organization that provides free or pro bono legal assistance to low-income individuals in non-criminal matters.

Can a lawyer recommend another lawyer?

Lawyers can often recommend other lawyers in the legal community who can assist you with your specific needs. Legal circles are small and most lawyers will know several other lawyers who specialize in the practice area for which you seek advice. Lawyers are also aware of other lawyer’s reputations in a particular practice field. Keep in mind, however, that lawyers often receive referral fees when they refer a case to another lawyer which may influence their decision as to whom they recommend.

How to find a lawyer for a lawsuit?

Here are a few other sources you can turn to for possible candidates in your search for a lawyer: 1 The director of your state or local chamber of commerce may be a good source of business lawyers. 2 The director of a nonprofit group interested in the subject matter that underlies your lawsuit is sure to know lawyers who work in that area. For example, if your dispute involves trying to stop a major new subdivision, it would make sense to consult an environmental group committed to fighting urban sprawl. 3 A law librarian can help identify authors in your state who have written books or articles on a particular subject -- for example, construction law. 4 A women's or men's support group will probably have a list of well-regarded family and divorce lawyers.

How much does a lawyer charge an hour?

Lawyers, of course, are prime sources of this information, but if you bought all the needed information at their rates -- $150 to $450 an hour -- you'd quickly empty your bank account.

What is Nolo lawyer directory?

Nolo offers a unique lawyer directory that provides a comprehensive profile for each attorney with information that will help you select the right attorney. The profiles tell you about the lawyer's experience, education, and fees, and perhaps most importantly, the lawyer's general philosophy of practicing law.

What is a lawyer referral service?

Lawyer referral services are another source of information. There is a wide variation in the quality of lawyer referral services, however, even though they are required to be approved by the state bar association. Some lawyer referral services carefully screen attorneys and list only those attorneys with particular qualifications and a certain amount of past experience, while other services will list any attorney in good standing with the state bar who maintains liability insurance. Before you choose a lawyer referral service, ask what its qualifications are for including an attorney and how carefully lawyers are screened.

What can a law librarian do?

A law librarian can help identify authors in your state who have written books or articles on a particular subject -- for example, construction law. A women's or men's support group will probably have a list of well-regarded family and divorce lawyers.

Do lawyers work with you?

Fortunately, many lawyers will work with you to help you acquire a good working knowledge of the legal principles and procedures you need to deal with your problem at least partly on your own. If you are hoping to represent yourself and use a lawyer only for advice, make sure the lawyer is open to that type of set-up.

What is FindLaws directory?

FindLaw's Lawyer Directory is one of several online legal directories that offer attorney listings across the U.S. As the premiere attorney search locator, FindLaw allows you to conveniently search for a lawyer by legal issue, location (i.e. state, county, city, and metro) and name. Moreover, FindLaw's directory is multidimensional to help you pinpoint relevant local attorneys, and also includes features that consumers care about, like descriptions of law firm practice area and easy links to attorney websites.

What is a lawyer referral service?

Lawyer referral services can help direct you to lawyers in your area based on certain criteria, mainly practice area or special services, such as immigration, domestic violence or legal aid. Since lawyer referral services are similar to phone book listings, however, you may not receive information regarding the lawyer's experience or qualification levels. As such, you may wish to cross-check attorney names through the State bar or some other lawyer referral service that provides a better perspective of a lawyer's background.

What to do before hiring a lawyer?

Before hiring any lawyer, contact the lawyer disciplinary agency in your state to confirm that they are in good standing as a member of the bar. For an online listing of each state's lawyer disciplinary agency, review this directory of lawyer disciplinary agencies.

How to assess a lawyer's ability?

One of the best ways to assess a lawyer’s legal ability is by interviewing them. Most attorneys will provide an initial consultation—usually an hour or less—at no charge. Below are a few questions to consider: 1 What experience does the lawyer have in your type of legal matter? 2 How long have they been in practice? 3 What is their track record of success? 4 What percentage of their caseload is dedicated to handling your type of legal problem? 5 Do they have any special skills or certifications? 6 What are their fees and how are they structured? 7 Do they carry malpractice insurance? If so, how much? 8 Who else would be working on your case and what are their rates? 9 Do they outsource any key legal tasks for functions? 10 What additional costs may be involved in addition to lawyer fees (postage, filing fees, copy fees, etc.)? 11 How often will you be billed? 12 Can they provide references from other clients? 13 Do they have a written fee agreement or representation agreement? 14 How will they inform you of developments in your case?

What do lawyers know about other lawyers?

Lawyers know the skill and reputation of other lawyers. Attorneys may be able to provide information about a fellow lawyer that you may not find in a book or online, such as information about a lawyer’s ethics, competence level, demeanor, practice habits, and reputation.

Why are lawyers important?

Lawyers are also important partners in situations that don’t involve the courtroom, advising clients about their legal rights and obligations for personal or business issues. They are trained to interpret complicated systems of laws and navigate the court system.

What is retainer fee?

Retainer Fee: A retainer fee is an advance payment to an attorney towards the hourly rate in a specific case. Your attorney will place the retainer fee into an account, and deduct money as work on your case progresses. These are usually non-refundable if you choose to terminate the case early.

What is a criminal lawyer?

Criminal Attorney. Criminal lawyers defend individuals who are charged with a crime. Criminal cases range from murder to fraud. The US Constitution guarantees criminal defendants an appointed lawyer to represent them if they can’t afford one. Sometimes an appointed criminal attorney may work for the government.

What does a probate attorney do?

Probate attorneys represent someone’s last will and testament during the court process. Their duties range from estate planning to filing petitions to appoint a will’s executor. They’ll also handle courtroom procedures when someone challenges a will.

What are some examples of legal cases?

Examples of legal cases that will need legal representation include: 1 Criminal cases 2 Personal injuries 3 Wills/trusts

Do lawyers have contingency fees?

Attorney Fees. You can ask lawyers if they’ll accept a payment plan for their services. Sometimes lawyers ask for portions of their full fee upfront before they start on your case. Other lawyers might have contingency fees and only receive a payment if your case wins.

Do I need a lawyer for a trial?

Ads by. It’s safe to say that you will need a lawyer when it’s clear your matter will eventually go to trial. Lawyers will provide legal advice throughout the life of your case to make it more likely that you eventually receive a decision that’s in your favor.

How many years of experience do I need to become an attorney?

Typically, you should look for an attorney with at least three to five years of experience practicing the type of law you need help with. Additionally, you should choose an attorney that currently practices in the area you need help with.

What is a family law attorney?

Family law attorneys handle matters such as separation, divorce, pre-nuptial agreements, adoption, guardianship, child custody and support. Personal injury law. Personal injury attorneys handle cases involving medical malpractice, dog bites, car accidents and any injury to a person that may be the fault of another.

What is hourly rate in law?

Lawyers charging an hourly rate “bill” hours and then charge the client for the amount of hours worked on the client’s matter. Usually, hourly rates are used by businesses and corporations who may be involved in litigation. Additionally, individuals may be charged hourly rates for long or complicated litigation. ...

What is an engagement letter?

This is a contract between you and your attorney that defines the nature of the legal engagement you are involved in, and the conditions and terms of your agreement with your attorney.

Do attorneys charge for consultations?

Most attorneys do consultation appointments for free. However, some may charge a small fee for a consultation. Make certain that you know whether you will be charged, and don't make an appointment with an attorney who isn't forthcoming about these details. Most attorneys offer consultations for free.

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.

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Word of Mouth and Referrals

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Word of mouth and referrals from friends, relatives, neighbors, business associates, and acquaintances are the best way to find a lawyer. These individuals have no vested interest, financial or otherw...
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Local Bar Associations

  • Another great resource for finding a lawyer in your area is your local bar association. Most county and city bar associations offer lawyer referral services to the public although they do not necessarily screen for qualifications. The American Bar Association also maintains a databasewhich offers assistance to consumers seeking legal help.
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Other Lawyers

  • Lawyers can often recommend other lawyers in the legal community who can assist you with your specific needs. Legal circles are small and most lawyers will know several other lawyers who specialize in the practice area for which you seek advice. Lawyers are also aware of other lawyer’s reputations in a particular practice field. Keep in mind, however, that lawyers often receive referr…
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Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory

  • Available at your local public library or law library, this directory of lawyers is an authoritative resource for information on the worldwide legal profession. Martindale-Hubbell also offers an online lawyerlocator service which contains a database of over one million lawyers and law firms in 160 countries. To find a lawyer, you can search by practice area or geographic location.
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Internet Resources

  • A number of for-profit directories on the Internet offer search vehicles through which you can find a lawyer. A few of these sites are lawyers.com, legalmatch.com, attorney.locate.com, lawyershop.com, attorneyfind.com and attorneypages.com.
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Legal Aid Services

  • If you need a lawyer but cannot afford one, you can contact your local legal aid office, an organization that provides free or pro bonolegal assistance to low-income individuals in non-criminal matters. Check the white pages of your telephone directory or type in “Legal Aid [insert the name of your county of state]” into an Internet search engine to find local legal aid providers …
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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.
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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. For example, of the almost one million lawyers in America today, probably fewer than 50,000 possess sufficient training and experience in small business law to be of real help to an aspiring entrepreneur. It can pay to work with a law…
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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 a...
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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). Before you meet with a lawyer, you might want to learn some common (and perhaps even not-so-common) legal terms. Get Nolo's Plain-English Law Dictionary, available as a free iPhone app(also compatible with iPod touch).
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Personal Referrals

  • Friends and relatives can be a great way to find a knowledgeable attorney in your area. Not only can they recount first-hand experience with the attorney, they can give you insight on the attorney's b...
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FindLaw's Lawyer Directory

  • FindLaw's Lawyer Directoryis one of several online legal directories that offer attorney listings across the U.S. As the premiere attorney search locator, FindLaw allows you to conveniently search for a lawyer by legal issue, location (i.e. state, county, city, and metro) and name. Moreover, FindLaw's directory is multidimensional to help you pinpoint relevant local attorneys, …
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State Bar Associations

  • State Bar Associationscan be a good way to locate a lawyer in your state. Most bar association's websites contain comprehensive listings of attorneys licensed to practice in the state at best. In most cases, you can search for lawyers by name, location, and legal practice area, but may also conduct more advanced searches, such as languages spoken.
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Volunteer Legal Organizations

  • In addition to state bar associations, most states have volunteer legal organizations that can lead you to a reliable lawyer. These organizations, which often include minority bar associations, legal aid societies, and others, might focus on representing a certain type of client, such as low-income, or particular legal focus, such as immigration or family law. You can often access the names of …
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Lawyer Referral Services

  • Lawyer referral services can help direct you to lawyers in your area based on certain criteria, mainly practice area or special services, such as immigration, domestic violence or legal aid. Since lawyer referral services are similar to phone book listings, however, you may not receive information regarding the lawyer's experience or qualification levels. As such, you may wish to cr…
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Advertisements

  • Advertisements about a lawyer's services that you read and hear in newspapers, billboards, and on the radio may provide some useful leads to attorneys in your area, but you may have to do some additional fact-finding to determine a lawyer's reputation and experience level. While it certainly doesn't hurt to contact a lawyer that you find through an advertisement, you should always be pr…
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Internet Search

  • For savvy internet searchers, you may be able to pinpoint a lawyer in your area by typing in certain keywords in your favorite search engine. Keep in mind, however, that there is no filtering of internet searches and you'll probably have to sift through multiple websites one by one to find a lawyer. Furthermore, since anyone can set up a web page, it may be hard to tell the quality or reli…
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Final Considerations

  • Once, you're ready to start contacting your list or lawyers, you may wish to read the following beforehand: 1. Ten Questions to Ask Your Potential Lawyer 2. Types of Law Firms 3. How Much Will It Costs to Hire a Lawyer? Lastly, after you've found a lawyer to work with, you should research the attorney's discipline recordand investigate whether the attorney is currently eligible to practi…
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