How to Find an Attorney

At one time or another, most of us will need an attorney for something. Just because you are not involved in something criminal, does not mean you do not need an attorney. Many of us think that when we hear that someone has retained a lawyer that they have broken the law or have been charged with a crime. That is not always the case. There are many other reasons why people hire a lawyer such as a divorce, drawing up a will or an adoption.

Hiring a lawyer is an important decision. You do not want to handle lawsuits or judgments on your own and you certainly do not have the time to learn about all the laws that have to do with your case. When you are trying to locate a lawyer to assist you, you need to be sure that you choose one that is experienced and well respected in the community. Remember, your legal problems will be in their hands. If you do need a lawyer for a criminal case and you are facing jail time, you had better do your research. The legal counsel you choose could make or break your case.

There are a few things you should never do when looking for a lawyer to represent you. You should never call one that you see plastered all over the TV during a commercial. Lawyers that have TV commercials are pretty much nothing but ambulance chasers. That applies to most attorneys you see on TV. Another thing with these TV lawyers is that they charge a ton of money for your case. It is not cheap to do these TV commercials so they have to recoup their money somehow and they pass that right on to their clients. Also, never hire a lawyer from a large ad on the back of your phone directory.

The first people you want to go to when looking for an attorney is someone that you know and trust. Chances are that maybe a friend, family member, coworker or neighbor has used one in the past. It would be great if they used one for a case similar to yours. But even if they have used another lawyer, that lawyer may be able to refer you to someone they know who handles your type of case and is well respected and experienced.

Check with the referral service in your area. They can give you information on the attorneys who specialize in your case that are located in your area. Many times the referral service has profiles of these attorneys on their website that will tell you the lawyers' educational backgrounds, experience and law philosophies. The Better Business Bureau is another place you can check. They can tell you which lawyers are a member of the BBB and which ones have a history of unresolved complaints.