In times of crisis, such as the death of a loved one, an accident that caused significant injury, or a contentious divorce, it is obvious that an attorney is necessary. But there are less obvious times in your life when a lawyer can also be an asset, like:

• Starting a new business
• Applying for citizenship
• Adopting a child
• Engaging in a partnership for a new venture
• Buying or selling real estate
• Dealing with an environmental issue

Sometimes, you may not even realize that you need a lawyer, let alone which kind. Attorneys don’t serve only to file lawsuits and persuade juries; they also work alongside clients to negotiate deals and advocate in non-litigious settings. 

Can any lawyer help me with any legal questions I might have?

No lawyer is equipped to handle all areas of the law. For instance, you wouldn’t want the same attorney that defends you in a parking ticket to write your pre-nuptial agreement or file a trademark application for your small business. 

But because there are specialists in each area of the law in almost every state, there are many resources to help you do your homework to select the right lawyer for the job.

What kinds of lawyers are out there? 

Some lawyers work in the court system, defending or pursuing specific types of cases (litigators), and some lawyers work on transactional matters to protect clients from future litigation (transactional attorneys). Of course, there are also specialties within each broader type of law. For example, entertainment lawyers can work on the transactional side of deals or the litigious side during disputes.

The most common types of lawyers that people come across during their lifetimes are:

• Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Corporate and General Business Lawyers
• Family Lawyers
• Civil Litigators. 

These four categories are broad and encompass work from writing wills to filing articles of incorporation for small businesses and settling landlord/tenant matters. 

How do you find the right kind of lawyer for your issues? 

If you don’t have a cousin or a great-uncle who practices law to provide a reference for you, you’ll want to start with a Google search. It’s important to find a lawyer licensed in the state where the issue arises. 

For example, a California-licensed attorney will not know laws specific to Pennsylvania. Therefore, finding someone physically close to the heart of your issue will help ensure your attorney is capable of handling your particular predicament. 

What search terms should I use in my Google search?

When you feel a lawyer may be useful or necessary, start broad in your search for representation. Try searching for terms like “small business lawyer near me” or “tenant lawyer in Columbus, Ohio” to yield results encompassing the crux of your dilemma. 

Every case is unique, so searching for someone with experience handling an identical matter may prove difficult. Keeping your search broader will prevent the elimination of attorneys well-equipped to handle whatever challenge you may face.

Other Search Engines

If Google yields too many or too few results, there are search engines specifically designed to assist clients in looking for the correct lawyer for them. For example, Lawyers.com can find an attorney in a specific geographic area who works on issues similar to yours based on a keyword and a zip code. 

Local Bar Associations

Most local bar associations also have Lawyer Referral Services, which can connect individuals with state-licensed practitioners. Often, these services are regulated by the State Bar Association, which creates guidelines and standards for lawyers to qualify for participation in the registry.

Once you find someone you believe is capable of handling your situation, it is important to ensure they are a qualified lawyer in good standing. State and local bar associations maintain searchable member directories where the public can verify that an attorney is licensed in a particular state and is in good standing – meaning they do not have disciplinary actions pending or imposed upon them. 

Sometimes, these databases can also aid in a search for an attorney. For example, the Florida Bar Lawyer Directory allows searches by practice area and even includes a search filter for attorneys willing to do pro bono hours for victims of crime. 

Reading Reviews on Lawyers

Once you have determined that the lawyer you are considering hiring is licensed and in good standing, it’s time to weigh what their other clients think of their work. Reading reviews by previous clients can determine whether a particular attorney or law firm is right for you. A specific lawyer might know the subject matter underlying your issue like the back of their hand – but if they miss deadlines, ignore clients, or charge an exorbitant fee, they may not be the best choice. 

Often, attorneys include reviews of their work on their websites, but these are likely to lean positive. Websites like Avvo.com allow people who have hired and chosen to hire an attorney to review their experience with them. Google, Yelp, and other review sites often also host reviews of client experiences with attorneys. You can use these reviews to find someone who matches your necessities and personal working style. Remember to read both the good and bad reviews, if available, to fully understand the attorney’s process and level of client care.

What do I do once I find a lawyer I am interested in working with?

Now that you’ve chosen an attorney that you believe will be knowledgeable on your issue and fit your needs as a client – what are the next steps? 

You’ll want to book a consultation with the attorney to ensure they are the perfect fit for you. Some attorneys offer free initial consultations, some charge nominal fees, and others charge their regular hourly fee. 

When scheduling your appointment, ask if there are any associated fees with the meeting. The attorney may ask for you to provide some information about your matter, such as the complaint you have been served or the insurance agreement you want to sue over. This will allow the lawyer to prepare to discuss your case during your first meeting adequately and is not unusual. 

Be Prepared to Answer Questions

When you meet with your prospective attorney for the first time, it is expected that both parties will have questions. What kind of questions should you expect to be asked? A prospective attorney is going to want a timeline of the issues, both retrospective and upcoming. For example:

• Are you trying to incorporate a business? 
• When do you plan to begin operations? Or have you already started operating?
• Do you have any contracts in place?
• Are there any other parties to the business?

If you were injured and are meeting with a personal injury lawyer, be prepared to provide information on the following:

• The date, time, and location of the accident
• The parties involved
• Any doctor’s appointments/receipts from those appointments after the accident
• The time you had to take off of work
• Any other potential expenses associated with the injury
• Any written communications between you and the other party (like text messages and e-mails)

What should you ask your prospective lawyer? 

Though a lawyer needs to understand the facts of your case to determine if it is a good fit, you should also ask the lawyer questions to ensure the firm is a good fit for you too.

Experience

First, you should ask if they have handled cases similar to yours – not just in the same area of law. A family attorney, for example, may have worked on hundreds of divorces but rarely drafts a pre-nuptial agreement. 

Further, you should ask how long the attorney, or the attorney who will be on your case, has been practicing law. A lawyer who has been practicing for a longer period will likely be able to guide you better than a newly licensed attorney.

Fees

You will also want information about their fees, which they must provide you within a reasonable time after commencing representation, per the Model Rules of Professional Conduct 1.5(b). 

Who will be working on the case?

Be sure to ask if the attorney you are meeting with will be the only attorney working on your matter or if they have associates, partners, or outside counsel assisting them. This can change your expected cost and may shift your plan to keep abreast of your matter. 

Find out if the attorney working on your case has worked with similar clients to your matter.

Who will the point of contact be?

Ask who your point of contact should be and how often to expect updates from the attorney and their team. Tell them upfront if you prefer to hand over the matter and let the attorney take care of almost everything. If you prefer a more hands-on method, make that clear as well.

Timeline

Always ask for the relevant timelines for your specific case or matter. 

Level of Confidence Concerning the Matter

Last but certainly not least, if an attorney tells you they know someone who could handle it much quicker or more efficiently, take that advice. The legal world is small, and specific lawyers have reputations for excellent counseling, zealous courtroom advocacy, and particularized intellect on certain subject matters. 

If an attorney tells you that someone else may better serve your needs, you should consider contacting that person as well.

Bottom Line – Do Your Homework

The bottom line is that prospective clients should do their homework to find a qualified attorney with the know-how and communicative style to meet their needs. Remember: just because a lawyer graduated from law school and passed the bar exam doesn’t mean they are an expert across diverse cross-sections of the law. That expertise comes from years of specified classes, practice, and further education. 

Protect your interests to the best of your ability by being diligent and patient in your search for an attorney. In some cases, your livelihood may depend on it.