Difference between revisions of "Find a Good Attorney"

Finding a good attorney may be the most important step you can take toward winning a legal case and it doesn't have to be a difficult task. You will, however, need to take your time with the search. Focus your efforts on finding a lawyer that has dealt with your specific legal issue in the past and that you get along with personally. Taking the time to find the right lawyer will be worth it, as they are more likely to help you win your case.

[[Category: Retaining a Lawyer]]

#Determine what type of attorney you need. It is always preferable to locate an attorney who has specialized expertise in the practice area that your case involves (e.g., malpractice law, bankruptcy law, etc.). It’s also a good idea to find attorney familiar with the courts and laws of the area where you live. This will enable your attorney to best represent your interests. Some examples of practice areas include:<ref name="rf1">http://www.lawyeredu.org/law-careers.html</ref>

#* You can find your bar association’s website by selecting your state from the State & Local Bar Associations page provided by the American Bar Association.<ref name="rf2">http://www.americanbar.org/aba.html</ref>

#Keep in mind that the size of the firm may matter. Law firms can vary in size ranging from one attorney to many attorneys, so you need to choose a law firm that you think will be best suited to your situation. Big corporations may want to hire a big-time firm to handle extremely complicated, often international, legal matters. However, if you are simply looking for someone to help you with your divorce or to help you write a will, you should feel comfortable hiring an attorney from a smaller firm.<ref name="rf3">http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/08/hiring-legal-help-ent-law-cx_rb_1008bovarnickhire.html</ref>

#Write out questions about the lawyer's practice. You can generally find out the basic information about the attorney online, such as how long s/he has been practicing, where s/he went to law school, etc. For your in-person questions, ask about matters that are relevant to your specific case. The attorney should not have any problem answering any questions you may have, and should not sound hesitant or unsure.  Areas to ask about include questions about the following:<Ref>http://www.avvo.com/legal-guides/ugc/how-to-make-the-most-of-your-initial-consultation-with-a-family-law-attorney</ref><reF>http://www.forbes.com/sites/financialfinesse/2011/10/05/how-to-find-a-good-lawyer-when-you-really-need-one/</ref><ref name="rf4">https://www.ncbar.com/public/questions.asp</ref>

#Attend your consultations. Meet with, or talk to, each of the lawyers you selected. Feel free to take notes while talking to each one, so that you can remember later what each attorney said and what your initial impressions were.<ref name="rf5">http://criminal.lawyers.com/Criminal-Law-Basics/Criminal-Law-Selecting-a-Good-Lawyer.html</ref>

#Understand how attorneys charge for their services. Typically, there are three major ways that attorneys bill for their services: a flat fee, a contingency fee or hourly fees.<ref name="rf6">http://www.calbar.ca.gov/Public/Pamphlets/HiringaLawyer.aspx#2</ref>

#*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.<ref name="rf7">http://research.lawyers.com/how-and-how-much-do-lawyers-charge.html</ref>

#*If you [[Hire a Lawyer When You Have Low Income | cannot afford the attorney’s fees]] upfront, ask about potential arrangements such as payment plans. Many attorneys are willing to work with you base on your financial needs.<ref name="rf8">http://www.attorneys.com/divorce/finding-a-pro-bono-divorce-lawyer-and-other-free-resources/</ref>

#*There are several ways that attorneys can help those on moderate or low incomes find legal counsel. Many firms offer "sliding fees" based on your income, so that you pay however much your income level allows.<ref name="rf9">http://www.americanbar.org/groups/delivery_legal_services/resources/programs_to_help_those_with_moderate_income.html</reF> You can sometimes even pay in barter, by trading goods or services (e.g., web design, gardening) for legal counsel.<ref>http://www.lawsitesblog.com/2013/06/new-site-lets-lawyers-barter-their-services-for-other-services.html</ref> This is up to the individual attorney.

#*These conditions should include the expenses you are responsible for, the rate the attorney will be charging and the minimum billable increment. Note: the minimum billable increment should be six minutes, not 15 minutes.<ref name="rf3" />