Hiring An Attorney: How To Do It Right

Chances are, at some point in your life you’re going to need the assistance of a qualified attorney. If that time has come, you’ll need to hire one in the best way possible. Typically, shelling out your money based on an ad you heard on the radio or a testimonial played on afternoon television is not that way. If you do some basic research and ask the right people, however, you can get a lawyer who will represent you competently.

Probably the best place to start your search is with friends, family members, and acquaintances who have hired an attorney in the past. If they’ve done so for a similar reason, they may be able to provide you with a great recommendation. You’ll know you can trust the information you glean from them, which is more than you can say about an anonymous referral from the internet or somewhere else. Don’t underestimate the legal network and how many people could be getting kickbacks for sending business a law firm’s way. If you can’t find anyone you know to recommend someone, try another lawyer. If you’ve hired one or know one for another reason, they could be able to refer to another professional they trust.

If you come up with a name, you don’t have to be satisfied with whatever your referrer told you about them. Take some time and do a little research into their background. This is where the internet can come in handy. Check out personal review sites and message boards in your area and see what people are saying about your attorney. Check with the bar association in your state and make sure there aren’t any dirty secrets in his past, such as disciplinary action. You want to be confident in your choice before you even bother setting up an appointment.

Once you are confident, it’s time to make that initial appointment. Many lawyers will be happy to meet with you for a free initial consultation. During this time, you can lay out your reasons for wanting to hire counsel and they can advise you as to whether they are the right person for your needs. You can use this time to evaluate the offices, the lawyer himself, and how comfortable you feel taking them on as your representation. Some of this final judgment will be made on a purely personal basis, which is fine—just don’t let a good attorney slip away from you because you find them a bit brusque. Some of the best lawyers, after all, are naturally aggressive. On the other hand, no one wants to deal with someone who seems too busy or rude to get along with, so you’ll need to weigh the positives and negatives accordingly.