3 Steps To Choosing A Lawyer

Someone once said lawyers are like root canals: no one wants to think about them until they need one. Once you need a lawyer, though, picking the right one can feel like hunting for a needle in a haystack. There is a wide variation in the knowledge and experience levels of lawyers, and it can be hard at first glance to tell who knows what they’re talking about and who doesn’t. In addition, lawyers who have a general practice are becoming dinosaurs. The “one size fits all” lawyer has all but vanished.

So, what’s a person to do when he or she needs legal assistance? Here’s a checklist of things to consider to help you identify the best lawyer for your needs.

Step One: Identify your problem. Start by understanding that different legal problems require lawyers with different skillsets. If you’ve been in a car accident, you want a lawyer who handles those kinds of cases. If a member of your family has died, look for a lawyer who knows the law of successions, donations, and perhaps trusts, as well as gift and estate taxation. The car accident lawyer may not know jack about probating a will, and the successions lawyer probably handles very little litigation. Lawyers are like tools – it’s important to pick the right one for the job.

Step Two: Check for qualifications and experience. Any lawyer can advertise his or her services and pretend to have all kinds of qualifications. That’s as easy as paying for a billboard. What’s hard is developing a solid word-of-mouth reputation, which is why it remains the most reliable source of information about the quality of a lawyer’s services. Indeed, you should only trust what others say about a lawyer—not what they say about themselves. So, feel free to ask around about any lawyer you are considering. What is their track record? What is their experience level? The more information you gather, the more reliable your decision will be.
Ask about the lawyer’s education. Did he or she attend an accredited law school? Did they do well in law school? Once you know that, dig into their track record on cases similar to yours. If you can, find out how the lawyer is regarded by judges and other lawyers. Has the lawyer been recognized for his or her accomplishments and contributions to the profession? Is he or she invited to lecture to other lawyers? Does he or she publish articles in the legal literature? These are all markers of particularly outstanding lawyers.

Step Three: Meet the lawyer. Once you have identified a lawyer you believe may be helpful to you, make an appointment with them. Don’t go into the appointment committed to hiring that lawyer. Ask questions. Get a feel for how he or she will be to work with.
Does the lawyer have a professional and qualified staff? Associate lawyers, secretaries and paralegals are a vital part of providing quality legal services for clients. Get a feel for them as well.

Remember, your legal problem may feel urgent, but it’s better to take a little extra time and hire the right lawyer than to rush in and find out later you made the wrong choice.

By following these three easy steps, you are much more likely to secure qualified and effective counsel to assist you in navigating legal problems.