How to Find the Right Lawyer

When you need a lawyer, one of the first steps you need to take is to try and decipher what type of legal assistance you need. When you look up attorneys in the phone book, you may be surprised how many different categories of law practice there are. If you need a criminal attorney, you don't want to hire a tax attorney and by the same token, if you need a lawyer to represent you with the Internal Revenue Service, you don't want a lawyer that specializes in family law.

If you're not sure what type of attorney your situation actually requires, your best bet is call a few law firms and talk to the receptionist. Don't give the receptionist a long drawn-out version including the details of your case, since they are not an attorney and cannot give you any legal advice. Instead, sum up your information into a sentence or two explaining what you are looking for and the receptionist will generally be able to tell you if you are talking to the right type of firm or not to help you. If you have a pretty clear idea of what type of attorney you need, your next step is schedule a few consultations. Some attorneys will give you a free consultation visit while others won't, so it's best to call around, especially if money is tight and you find one or two that are willing to talk to you for free.

During your initial consultation, you want to keep it brief but make sure you advise your attorney of all of the pertinent details to your case. Ultimately your goal is to screen out attorneys and find a lawyer who will tell you what their plan of action would be if you chose to hire them. You don't want to hire any legal representation that tells you a vague plan of action such as," I'll handle it, so don't worry about it."

The size of the law firm will also make a difference not only in the quality of your attorney but in the price tag. You may be able to get an appointment faster with a large law firm since they have more attorneys on staff that a single law firm office will have, but you may lose that personalized touch that a small firm can offer.  It often becomes a matter of deciding what is more important and what you need and what you can sacrifice for the right law firm. If you are concerned you will be pushed onto a lower level associate at a big firm, you may want to give a smaller firm your time and get that individual attention.

During your consultation, be sure to ask how long the firm has been practicing and if their area of specialty is a good fit for your needs. Remember, it's your case and you have the right to the best legal representation you can afford. Shop around and find the right legal representation for you.