Lawyers are all over the place . . . on commercials, in phone books and on those pesky pamphlets you get in the mail. You never really notice them until you need a lawyer. But finding a good lawyer isn’t as easy as picking up the phone book or seeing a commercial on TV. Not all lawyers are created equal.
To find an attorney, you first need to figure out what type of attorney you need. Attorneys specialize in certain types of law. You need to locate one who is going to be able to help you with your specific needs.
There are lots of ways to hire a lawyer: the phonebook, referrals from friends and websites. Here are several websites that can help you find just the right lawyer:
Interviewing a lawyer
Once you have several candidates, you need to schedule an initial interview. You can do this either over the phone or in person. This will give you the opportunity to ask the right questions and find out if this lawyer is going to be able to help you with your problem. It will also allow you to assess if this is someone you feel comfortable with.
You’ll need to come up with some questions that are specific to your problem. Make sure you take notes on the interviewing lawyer’s answers during each interview. Here are some of our suggested questions to get you started:
What is your specialty?
These are some great questions to help you get to know the attorney a little more. They will also help you discuss your case and gauge the attorney’s opinion of your chances of winning your case. Keep in mind that a lawyer who guarantees a win or big settlement might not be the best one to pick.
Making the decision
After interviewing all of the lawyers, sit down and review your notes. It’s important that you choose a lawyer who specializes in your case, has a good reputation and several years of experience. Choose someone who makes you feel comfortable – who you feel listens to you and is trustworthy. You may end up paying a little more than if you’d gone with another lawyer. But having a good relationship with your lawyer can make a huge difference. You never know how long you’ll be in court dealing with your issue.
