What To Look For In A Lawyer

Meet Them Before You Decide

Before you decide if you want to work with a lawyer, it’s a good idea to meet them in person first. Lawyers will usually provide an initial consultation for free so you should always take advantage of this. When you meet them, ask for more information about them. What experience do they have in your type of legal matter? What are their fees? Do they have any special skills you should know about? These and many other questions will give you a good feel for if they’re the right match for you. 

Conduct A Background Check

If you think you may have found the right lawyer for you, it’s wise to look into a background check. Every state has a lawyer disciplinary agency where you can look into a specific lawyer and see if they’re in good standing as a member of the bar. Checking references is a necessity as well, especially if the lawyer was found online. Finally, checking peer review ratings is a great way to indicate a lawyer’s ethical standards and professional ability. These peer reviews are created by other members of the bar and the judiciary in the United States. 

Tour Their Office

You’d be surprised how much you can tell about a lawyer from their office. When you meet your potential lawyer for the first time, ask them if you can take a look around to get a feel of the place. If the office is neat, efficient and well-run, that’s usually a good sign. Even then, sometimes the staff is rude or unhelpful, and since you’ll likely be dealing with the staff a lot, that might be something you want to avoid. There are plenty of red flags to look out for so it’s important to take the time to really take a look around the office.

Ask Other Lawyers

This might seem odd, but it’s a good idea to ask other lawyers what they know about your potential choices. Lawyers often know about other professionals in their field and are sometimes able to share information that you wouldn’t be able to find online or in a book. Since lawyers aren’t typically proficient in all types of law, they’re usually willing to share their thoughts on other lawyers who specialize in areas they don’t.

Picking the right lawyer for you is a crucial decision. If you make the wrong choice, you may wind up in a worse position than you were originally. Take the time to do your research and get a feel for your options, otherwise, you’ll regret it later.