How would you choose the best lawyer for your needs? Choosing legal services is like choosing any other product or service: the insightful costumer conducts thorough research before making an informed decision. When you secure a few lawyer referrals with expertise in the appropriate practice area, you should carefully research each candidate. Below are five steps to choosing the best lawyer for your legal needs.
Conduct Candidate Interviews
One of the most ideal approaches to evaluate a lawyer’s legal ability is by interviewing them. Most attorneys will give an initial consultation (usually an hour or less) at no charge. The following are a couple of questions to consider:
- What experience does the lawyer have in your type of legal matter?
- How long have they been in practice?
- What is their track record of success?
- What percentage of their caseload is dedicated to handling your type of legal problem?
- Do they have any special skills or certifications?
- What are their fees and how are they structured?
- Do they carry malpractice insurance? If so, how much?
- Who else would be working on your case and what are their rates?
- Do they outsource any key legal tasks for functions?
- What additional costs may be involved in addition to lawyer fees (postage, filing fees, copy fees, etc.)?
- How often will you be billed?
- Can they provide references from other clients?
- Do they have a written fee agreement or representation agreement?
- How will they inform you of developments in your case?
Remember that a higher fee does not necessarily equate with a more qualified attorney. Consequently, an absolute bottom fee may signal problems, inexperience, or incompetence.
In the wake of meeting with the lawyer, you ought to pose the accompanying questions:
- Are the lawyer’s experience and background compatible with your legal needs?
- Did they provide prompt and courteous responses to your questions?
- Are they someone with whom you would be comfortable working with?
- Are you confident they possess the skills and experience to handle your case?
- Are you comfortable with the fees and how they are structured?
- Are you comfortable with the terms of the fee agreement and/or representation agreement?
Consult Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
Found online at Martindale.com and at your local public and law libraries, Martindale-Hubbell is a great resource for information about a law firm and its lawyers. This guide is frequently used by lawyers when choosing legal talent in another jurisdiction. The catalog incorporates basic practice profile data on virtually every lawyer in the United States and Canada and detailed professional biographies of leading lawyers and firms in 160 countries including Ghana. It also includes lawyer and law firm ratings based upon peer reviews, which may help when choosing between two equally qualified candidates.
Ask Other Attorneys
Lawyers know the expertise and reputation of other legal counselors. Attorneys might most likely be able to provide information about a fellow lawyer that you may not find in a book or online, such as information about a lawyer’s ethics, competence level, demeanor, practice habits, and reputation.
Conduct a Background Check
Before hiring any lawyer, contact the lawyer disciplinary agency in your state to confirm that they are in good standing as a member of the bar. For an online listing of each state's lawyer disciplinary agency, review this directory of lawyer disciplinary agencies. You should always check references, especially if you located the attorney through the Internet. You can also check a lawyer’s peer review ratings online at Martindale.com. Peer review ratings provide an objective indicator of a lawyer's ethical standards and professional ability, generated from evaluations of lawyers by other members of the bar and the judiciary in countries all over the world.
Tour the Lawyer’s Law Office
You can tell a lot about an attorney from his law office. Request a brief tour of his office, beyond the office or conference room where you met with the lawyer. Is the law office neat, orderly, efficient and well-run? What kind of support staff does the lawyer employ? Does staff appear friendly and helpful? Is the lawyer’s office local and easily accessible? Is a large portion of his office space unoccupied? Watch for red flags, such as mass disarray, unhappy staff members, and empty offices.
By taking these five steps, you can select a lawyer with the legal skills and personal qualities that will best serve your needs.
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