Step #3: Choose and hire your lawyer

Your phone interviews should help you narrow your list even further, hopefully to one or two lawyers. Now’s the time to ask for an in-person meeting. In these meetings, your goals are to:

• Size them up: Do you feel like you can trust this lawyer with your important legal needs?
• Meet their staff: Do you trust the other lawyers and/or assistants that might help with your case?
• Confirm the cost of representation: The last thing you want is a surprise later on.
• Get any remaining questions answered: See our suggested questions..

After you’ve met one or two attorneys in person and had a chance to get all your questions answered, your decision should be becoming quite clear. Here are just a few more important tips to help you be sure you’re choosing the best lawyer for your needs:

• Check references: If at all possible, talk to current or former clients. Are they satisfied with the way their case turned out? Would they choose this lawyer again? Do they have any other information or suggestions for you?
• See what other lawyers think: Check out the “Endorsements” tab on your lawyer’s Avvo profile page.
• Look over and sign your lawyer’s engagement letter: In general, engagement letters follow a standard format. But if anything in the letter seems odd or confusing, don’t be shy—talk to your lawyer about it. They may change or remove it. Be sure to keep a copy of the letter for yourself, in case you have questions later.

At Avvo, we’re here to help you choose the right lawyer—the one that’s the best fit for your unique situation. Thanks for letting us help you along the way. You can help other Avvo users by taking a few minutes to submit a client rating of the attorney you chose, as well as any other lawyers you’ve worked with in the past. Your experiences can make a world of difference to others like you who are seeking legal help.