Tips for Finding a Good Lawyer

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Whether you’re searching for a personal injury lawyer or a divorce attorney, finding the right person to represent you is like investing in any other product or service. To make an informed decision, you’ll need to conduct thorough research and secure referrals with expertise in the appropriate practice. Before choosing who will represent you, it’s also important to carefully research each candidate. If you’re not sure where to start, here’s how to find a reputable lawyer for your case.

Ask for Referrals

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Reaching out to friends, family, and people in your community who have experienced similar problems can help you find high-quality personal referrals. For example, if you’re searching for a divorce lawyer, try asking a family member that has gone through a divorce who their lawyer was and how their experience was. If you connect with people in your community who experienced similar legal problems, you’re likely to find a few good leads.

Depending on the circumstances of your case, it might be hard to find a lawyer with the appropriate expertise through personal referrals. If you’re having trouble finding a lawyer through personal referrals, try using an online service like Nolo. Nolo asks a few questions about your case and contact information to connect you with the right type of lawyer in your area.

Lawyer referral services can also help you find reputable lawyers in your area. However, although they require approval from the state bar association, lawyer referral services can vary widely in quality. While some lawyer referral services screen attorneys and only refer those with specific qualifications and experience, others list all attorneys in good standing with the state bar. Before using a lawyer referral service, find out how lawyers are screened.

Schedule Initial Consultations

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Scheduling an initial consultation with each candidate can help you assess each lawyer’s legal ability and expertise in their practice area. In most cases, lawyers will offer the option to schedule an initial consultation, which typically lasts an hour, at no charge. To prepare for your consultation, jot down any questions you have and any important details about your case.

Make sure to ask about each candidate’s experience with cases similar to yours, as well as their track record of success. For example, if you’ve been injured in a motorcycle accident, it’s essential to find an experienced motorcycle accident attorney with a proven track record representing plaintiffs.

Consider asking about each candidate’s area of expertise and their educational background. If you’re concerned with billing, ask about their fees, their fee structure, and any additional costs, such as filing and postage fees.

Additionally, keep in mind that a higher fee doesn’t necessarily mean the lawyer is more qualified. However, fees that seem too good to be true might signal problems, incompetence, or inexperience. Ultimately, focus on finding a lawyer that you trust and feel comfortable discussing the details of your case with.

Conduct a Background Check

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Before deciding which lawyer to work with, contact your state’s lawyer disciplinary agency to ensure they’re in good standing as a member of the bar. If you’re working with a lawyer you found through the Internet, it’s also important to check references and peer ratings. Peer ratings, which are generated by other members of the bar, offer an objective indication of a lawyer’s professionalism and ethical standards.

In addition to checking each candidate’s references and peer ratings, conduct background checks on each candidate. With GoLookUp’s web data services, you can perform a people search to find more information about each candidate. GoLookUp’s people search tool will yield everything you need to know about each candidate, including criminal records, hidden social profiles, and misdemeanors and felonies.

If your legal situation is complex, a lawyer can offer strategic advice and help you navigate the legal process. A “good” lawyer should be willing to help you educate yourself on your legal situation and be willing to act as your formal legal counsel. Although finding a good lawyer to represent you isn’t always easy, asking for referrals, scheduling initial consultations, and performing background checks can help you screen potential candidates.