How to Find a Good Lawyer

Finding a skilled lawyer can be one of the most important steps in winning a lawsuit, and although it might not be a difficult task, it will take time to search. Be sure to put in the effort to find a lawyer with experience handling similar legal matters in the past, and someone who can connect well with you. The result will be worth the time spent searching for the right lawyer, as those individuals are likely to help you win your case.

Identify the type of lawyer you need. It’s best if you find a lawyer who specializes in the area related to your case (e.g., professional misconduct, bankruptcy, etc.). It’s also a good idea to look for a lawyer who specializes in litigation and laws in your locality. This will help ensure the lawyer represents your best interests. Some areas of law include:

• Bankruptcy Law. A bankruptcy lawyer will assist when you face financial difficulties.
• Criminal Law. A criminal lawyer is essential if your case involves crimes or unlawful behavior.
• Disability Experts. In the United States, these specialists handle issues related to Social Security benefits and/or compensation claims for veterans.
• Trust and Estate Law. In the United States, a lawyer with this expertise will handle matters like estate planning, Medicaid eligibility for low-income individuals, estate inventories, and guardianships for aging parents or grandparents.
• Family and Divorce Law. Family and divorce lawyers handle issues like separation, divorce, prenuptial agreements, child adoption, guardianships, custody, and child support.
• Personal Injury Law. In the United States, personal injury lawyers deal with cases involving medical malpractice, dog bites, car accidents, or injuries caused by someone else's negligence.
• Labor Law. A labor lawyer will help your business establish labor regulations and handle cases where employees file lawsuits for unlawful termination or where businesses face litigation.
• Small Business or Corporate Law. If you're looking to start a business, a small business or corporate lawyer is your best choice.

Contact the local bar association to find qualified lawyers in your area. In the United States, state bar associations keep public records of complaints and disciplinary actions against licensed lawyers in that state. Most local bar associations offer referral services to help you find a lawyer suited to your specific legal needs.

• In the United States, you can visit the state bar association's online directory by selecting your state from the State & Local Bar Associations page provided by the American Bar Association.

Check online lawyer directories. Many online platforms provide free reviews of businesses. In the United States, some websites you can use to check lawyer reviews include LegalZoom, Rocketlawyer, LawTrades, and Avvo.com.

• Some websites, like LawHelp.org, focus on helping low-income individuals find lawyers.
• Cross-check reviews from different online sources to avoid biases in the reviews you find.

Ask for recommendations from friends and family. Talk to friends or family members who have hired a lawyer before. Find out who they hired, what services were provided, whether they were satisfied, and why. Ask them if you should consider hiring those same lawyers.

Create a list of potential lawyers in your area. This list should include the names, contact details, phone numbers, and website addresses of those lawyers. This will help you organize the information you gather for the next steps in the process.

Review each lawyer’s online presence. You'll want to know what areas of law the lawyer practices. Also, look for personal information about the lawyer, such as the law school they attended and their specialization.

• Look for basic information related to your legal issue, such as FAQ sections or blog posts about your specific concern. The best lawyers will maintain and update their websites to offer a wealth of information.
• Most lawyer websites provide details about each lawyer working at the firm. Pay attention to their education and work experience.
• Typically, you’ll want to find a lawyer with at least three to five years of experience in the field of law you're seeking assistance with. Additionally, choose a lawyer who practices in the specific area you need help with.
• Remember, many lawyers use social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook. Check those personal pages as well. A lawyer’s public persona can help you gauge if you’ll be able to work with them.

Keep in mind that the size of the law firm may influence your choice. Law firms vary in size, ranging from small to large, with just one lawyer or many. It’s essential to choose a firm that aligns with your needs. Large corporations often prefer large firms to handle complex legal issues, particularly those with international components. However, if you're seeking help with something like divorce proceedings or drafting a will, you might find it more comfortable working with a lawyer from a smaller firm.

Schedule consultations with all the lawyers on your list. Contact each lawyer and arrange an initial consultation. Most lawyers offer free consultations, although some may charge a small fee. Be sure to clarify whether a fee is required, and avoid scheduling an appointment with any lawyer who isn’t upfront about this.

• Many lawyers offer free consultations, so it’s best to start with those before paying for an initial meeting with a fee-based lawyer.
• If you don’t reside in the same state as the lawyer, you may be able to arrange a consultation by phone rather than in person. However, since you’ll likely want your lawyer to appear in court with you, try to find a local lawyer to represent you.

Prepare a list of questions about the lawyer’s practice area. You can research basic information about the lawyer online, such as their years of practice and the law school they attended. When meeting in person, ask questions related to your specific case. A good lawyer will answer your questions confidently and without hesitation. Here are some key questions to ask:

• Fee structure. Ask if the lawyer charges by the hour or offers a flat fee. In the U.S., flat fees are common in many practice areas, such as family law.
• Timeframe for completion. Ask how quickly the lawyer expects to complete the work. While they may not give a precise timeline, they should provide an estimate based on similar cases they’ve handled.
• Success rate. You’ll likely want to know the lawyer’s track record with cases similar to yours. While lawyers can’t guarantee results (it’s against ethical rules to do so), you should get a sense of what outcomes to reasonably expect. You may also be able to speak with previous clients, though the lawyer can only provide references with client consent.
• Availability. Ask when the lawyer can start working on your case and who your main point of contact will be throughout the process. Will you be dealing with an assistant or a junior colleague? It’s important to know who to reach out to with any case-related questions.
• Past misconduct. If the lawyer has ever been disciplined or had any ethical violations, you can check the state bar association’s website for this information. If applicable, ask the lawyer about any past violations. In some cases, violations may be minor, such as failing to pay bar dues on time. Consider whether the violation is serious enough to raise concerns.

Bring relevant documents or information to the meeting. The lawyer may request specific documents, but you should also bring anything you believe is important for your case. Gather all these materials ahead of time and make sure you know where they are when you meet with the lawyer.

Attend the consultation session. Meet with or have a conversation with each lawyer you've chosen. Take notes during your discussions to help you remember what they said and your initial impressions of them.

• Remember that you’re interviewing the lawyer for a job. Treat the meeting like a job interview. If you feel the lawyer isn’t listening or answering your questions adequately, consider finding another lawyer.

Choose a lawyer you feel comfortable with. In addition to their experience and legal expertise, pick a lawyer you believe you can work with easily and who makes you feel at ease.

• If a lawyer makes you uncomfortable, it’s best to find someone else to represent you.
• Also, consider whether the lawyer responds well to your questions. If they stammer, use excessive legal jargon, or don’t address your needs, it may be time to find another lawyer.
• If multiple lawyers meet your criteria, choose the one you feel most comfortable with.

Understand the lawyer’s fee structure. In the U.S., there are typically three main ways lawyers charge for their services: flat fees, contingency fees, and hourly rates.

• A lawyer charging a flat fee will set a price (sometimes upfront) for handling the entire case, regardless of the number of hours spent. Common cases with flat fees include criminal defense, bankruptcy, family law matters (such as divorce or child custody), and drafting legal documents like wills or trusts.
• A lawyer working on a contingency fee basis only gets paid if they recover money for the client, either through settlement or litigation. The lawyer receives a percentage of the amount recovered, typically between 30% and 40%. Contingency fees are often used in personal injury cases, employment discrimination, and cases where a large amount of money may be recovered from a corporation or business.
• A lawyer charging by the hour will bill for the time they spend working on your case. Hourly fees are common for businesses or corporations with litigation-related needs, and individuals with complex or lengthy legal matters may also be charged hourly.

Negotiate a fee. Determine a budget for what you can afford and ask the lawyer if they can handle the case within that budget. Additionally, make sure to tell the lawyer that they must inform you before taking any actions that might exceed your budget.

• Even if you’ve set a reasonable budget, if the case becomes particularly complex or time-consuming, you might need to pay more than initially anticipated.
• If you’re unable to pay the full attorney’s fee upfront, ask about possible payment arrangements, such as a payment plan. Many lawyers are willing to work within your financial situation.
• Some lawyers assist those with average or lower incomes in finding affordable legal counsel. In the U.S., many law firms offer a sliding scale based on your income, meaning you pay fees that are proportional to your income level. In some cases, you might even be able to trade goods or services (e.g., website design, gardening) for legal advice, depending on the individual lawyer.

Draft an engagement letter or retainer agreement to hire the lawyer. Your lawyer will provide this letter or agreement. It serves as a contract between you and the lawyer, outlining the nature of your legal relationship and the terms and conditions of the agreement.

• The terms should include the fee you are responsible for, the rate the lawyer will charge, and the minimum billing period. Note: the minimum billing period is six minutes, not 15 minutes.

• Consider firing your lawyer if they display any of the following behaviors: neglecting to file paperwork or missing court dates, refusing to update you on the status of your case, not answering phone calls or emails, or being dishonest or evasive when you ask questions.
• To achieve the best outcome in your case, work collaboratively with your lawyer. Always provide all requested documents, and don’t miss any hearings—if you’re in the United States. A good lawyer will support you, but they can’t do much without your cooperation.