Selecting a good attorney

July 2009

Selecting a good attorney doesn’t have to be a difficult process, and with a little bit of work on your own, you can easily narrow down a long list to a few qualified candidates. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind that will help eliminate some of the stress of locating the perfect attorney for you needs.

Define your needs
The first criteria in selecting the perfect attorney are defining your needs. Just as you would not go to a dermatologist to treat a stomach virus, it is the same principle in selecting an attorney. While the dermatologist is well educated doctor, they would not be able to offer the same care and attention the specific problem deserves as a gastroenterologist would give you. It’s the same idea with selecting an attorney. There are over one million attorneys in the United States, and many offer specialization in certain fields, such as divorce, incorporating a business, estate planning, personal injury and automobile accident, to name a few. It’s easy to get lost in the yellow pages or in an online directory, so once you have established your needs, it will simplify your approach.

Utilize Resources
The amounts of resources available are almost overwhelming at times. We can easily get lost in all of the tremendous number of law firm’s advertising on television, radio, and even the yellow pages and internet. Once you have established what type of legal services you need, there are many resources available to help you select the perfect attorney for your needs. Often, your states Bar Association will offer a free lawyer referral service, which would consist of a short interview over the phone, and also will offer recommendations. Also, your local chamber of commerce or the Better Business Bureau will have a list of highly recommended attorneys that have proven good servants to the community. It is always advantageous to talk to friends and relatives for referrals as well. There is also a misconception that the large firms offer the best service. Often time’s large firms have high overhead, and many attorneys on staff. Many times you will retain an attorney, and then once your invoicing arrives you will realize that there have been a number of attorneys working on your case you have never even met. When hourly rates average between $150 and $275, it can quickly deplete your retainer, as well as your bank account. You should be able to come up with a list of 5 or 10 attorneys, independent as well as in large firms, to go to the next process.

Interview
Once you have comprised a list, you should take the time to interview the attorneys on your list. Most attorneys will offer at least a 30 minute consult for free, and in this time you can gauge their aptitude on handling your needs. There are many things to take into consideration in this stage. Communication is highly important. This is a very important relationship to you, and due to attorneys fees, utilization of time is often of the essence. You want to select an attorney that understands how you communicate, and you are able to understand as well. Keep in mind that attorneys offer more than just preparation of legal documents. They serve as strategist, counselors, communicators and offer excellent advice. You want to choose someone that you have total comfort in your most personal and private discussions.
Another consideration is billing. You will want to discuss this up front. Many attorneys will help give you a guideline of what documents and research you can do on your own to help ease the financial burden you are undertaking. If this is your position, you will want to select an attorney that will offer you help on helping yourself. Often times this includes gathering all of the resources on your own. Make sure that the attorney you are interviewing will be comfortable with this, as well as helpful. Also, be specific in what your financial position is, and how much you are willing to spend. As stated earlier, often time’s large firms put researchers, paralegals and staffers on your invoicing. It could be very devastating to receive an invoice in the mail from your attorney that you are unable to pay, so it’s best to have a clear and decisive financial goal.