How do I Find a Good Lawyer?

As with any profession, there are many lawyers to choose from. Take the time to do your homework before hiring an attorney.

How does someone go about finding a good lawyer if they don't already know a good lawyer, and perhaps have never needed a lawyer before? This FAQ will talk about different ways to find an attorney, without getting bogged down in too much detail about specific types of cases. Whatever method you use, remember - the lawyer is your employee. That lawyer has special legal knowledge, otherwise you would not need to hire them, but they are not in total control of the case - it is your case, not theirs. On the other hand, the lawyer is responsible to you and the court system to make sure that the actions that he or she pursues are valid claims. No lawyer should represent a client who just wants to sue for the sake of hurting someone. A lawyer's job is to analyze the situation and determine whether or not there are grounds for this action and fully inform you of the chances of a successful conclusion.

The best way is the old-fashioned way: personal referral and word of mouth. If you know any lawyers, even if they don't handle your type of case, ask them for recommendations. Ask friends, family, clergy, people at work, union officials, club members, at the corner tavern or beauty salon. You could also ask for the name and telephone number of the company lawyer for your employer. Business lawyers very often know who the best matrimonial, personal injury or bankruptcy lawyers are in their area. Make sure that you interview two or three lawyers before making a decision which one to retain.

If you're looking for a trial lawyer, ask for recommendations from friends and relatives who've recently served on juries. If you're looking for a real estate lawyer, call a title company and ask them who they use. For a domestic relations lawyer, ask the deputy court clerk in charge of domestic cases. Lawyers are the best source of information about other lawyers. Establish a relationship with a lawyer before some big emergency comes up and have him or her do some little things for you, like prepare a will, handle a speeding ticket or a residential real estate deal, review a contract, form a closely held corporation, etc. Is he or she responsive? Understanding? Prompt? Does he or she explain things clearly? Does he or she keep you informed without being asked? If the lawyer doesn't know the answer, does he or she admit it and then go find out for you? Then, when you have a big legal problem, you won't have to rush out and interview a bunch of strangers. You've already got somebody you can trust. If he or she can't handle the big matter, he or she can find you the right lawyer who can.