Finding the perfect attorney for your needs can be a difficult task. You will share confidential information and rely on their advice, so you must feel comfortable. Personal referrals are a good place to start. Ask friends, family, and co-workers for recommendations. Also, consider researching state bar associations and online resources.
Experience
With over 1.1 million lawyers licensed to practice in the United States, finding an attorney with the appropriate experience level can be challenging. Selecting a lawyer with experience with your particular legal problem will increase the likelihood of a positive outcome. Your search for an attorney should start by defining your precise legal needs. From this, you can narrow down your options and identify suitable attorneys. Your next step is to interview your prospective candidates. This should be treated like a job interview, and you should ask thoughtful questions about your case. Finding the right attorney is time-consuming, but it will be worth it. With careful consideration, you can locate an attorney that meets your specific needs and provides sound legal advice.
Reputation
You can gather much information about an attorney by researching their reputation. Personal referrals are a good place to start, but you should also consider reading client reviews and checking for disciplinary records. Additionally, look for testimonials and awards on the attorney’s website. However, it’s important to note that more unhappy clients tend to post online, which can skew an overall rating. Once you’ve gathered information about an attorney, schedule meetings with them to gauge their professionalism and comfortability, treat these meetings as you would a job interview, and pay attention to their responsiveness and communication style. If you can’t have a comfortable and trusting lawyer-client relationship, it’s best to find someone else. This will save both of you time and money in the long run.
Fees
Finding a reasonable attorney may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Start by getting recommendations from friends and family. Their unbiased experiences will help narrow your search and focus on attorneys with a proven track record with cases like yours. Ask about the lawyer’s practice area(s) and their success rate. Many attorneys specialize in specific areas, and those with broad experience are unlikely to be able to handle your case as efficiently as someone who is highly specialized in your type of legal matter. Also, be sure to talk about the fees. Some lawyers will bill hourly, which can add up quickly if your legal issue is complex. Be sure to get a written fee agreement and review it periodically. Attorneys willing to negotiate their rates often find a middle ground that is more cost-effective for both parties.
Personality
When you meet with a lawyer, please pay attention to how they interact with you. You want to choose someone who will work well with you and whose personality is compatible with yours. You also want to find a lawyer who is direct with you. This does not mean they are rude, but they should be able to tell you your options and the consequences, even if it is not what you want to hear. When you meet with an attorney, treat the meeting like a job interview. Ask lots of questions, and note how the lawyer responds. If they use too much legalese or seem uninterested in your case, choose a different one. They should care about your case as much as you do.
Communication
As simple as it may seem, good communication is critical to all professional relationships. In the legal arena, that includes the attorney-client relationship. If a client feels frustrated and unheard by their lawyer, it can harm their case. It would help if you asked prospective attorneys about their communication skills. They can tell you how quickly they respond to calls and emails and if they have a system to ensure that clients are informed of case developments. It would help if you also inquired about how they communicate with their team, including paralegals and support staff. This will give you an idea of how they handle their workload and how much you can expect to hear from them throughout your case.