This article gives advice on how to select a lawyer to represent you.
1
Get 3 Referrals
Whether you're picking a lawyer to represent you in a family law matter, a personal injury case, a bankruptcy or any kind of legal matter, the smartest thing you can do is to be picky: always interview at least three potential lawyers. The attorney/client relationship is based on trust. Trust begins with chemistry. Chemistry is based on instinct. Remember, picking a lawyer is like hiring an employee. Interview at least three lawyers and narrow your search by eliminating those attorneys about whom you get a bad feeling.
2
Check Out Their Credentials With the State Bar
The next thing you should do is assure yourself that your potential lawyer does not have any disciplinary actions taken against him or her by the State bar. All State bars have websites. All State bar websites report disciplinary actions taken against members. If your potential attorney is in trouble with the State bar, don't hire them.
3
Determine If They Have Been Sued By Clients
The next thing you can do to assure yourself that your potential lawyer is reputable is to check local court indexes for any pending or concluded actions in which the lawyer was a party. Be careful not to confuse this concept with the lawyer representing a party. Most lawyers who do any litigation will appear in court indexes as counsel of record in dozens of cases. But if your potential lawyer is an actual party to any litigation matters -- either as a party plaintiff or a party defendant -- this may be a red flag that this lawyer is a litigious hot-head, or that clients have sued them before. Neither scenario is good. Court indexes can usually be checked online, or by going down to the courthouse and asking a clerk for assistance.
4
Check Out the Lawyer's Digital Footprint
Check out your potential lawyer on the internet by entering their name in search engines. Avvo.com is a wonderful resource for checking out a lawyer because it features endorsements by other lawyers and reviews by former clients. But don't forget about plain old search engines like Google or Yahoo. If your potential lawyer has a negative digital trail, it's a good sign that you should not hire him or her.
5
Ask For References
At the end of interviewing your potential lawyer, ask for references. Then, actually call the references and ask about the lawyer. The best reference is someone you know. But if that is not possible, then a former client is the next best thing.
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