How Do I Find A Lawyer?
Go To Those You Know
Family, friends and business acquaintances are all
excellent places to start your lawyer search. Why is
this, you may ask? Quite simply, the word of a close
friend or relative means a lot more than a stranger?s,
and let?s face it: it can be downright difficult to
rely on reviews of products let alone an individual?s
services. That?s why getting suggestions from others
on who to hire can be so helpful. Maybe they use this
lawyer and swear by them, or maybe they have a friend
that swears by them. Regardless of the connection, a
recommendation from a trusted source is worth it.
Hit The Web
As everyone knows by now, the internet is an excellent
resource for finding out just about anything. So why
shouldn?t your quest for the perfect lawyer venture to
the web? There are many legal directories online with
up to date information on lawyers in your area.
You can search by location, specialty and more. What?s
really great about this format is that the attorneys
have much more of an interaction with you initially
before you even hire them. The firm or lawyer
descriptions in the directory tend to be much more
personable and provide detailed information on their
practice. You can make an informed decision on the
right lawyer for you just from these choice words
placed online.
Each listing has in depth contact information as well,
making it super easy to drop them an e-mail or call
them up with your questions. Since the internet makes
everything easier, it?s no surprise it has made
getting a lawyer a snap as well. Here are a few places
to start your search:
- www.attorneypages.com
- www.martindale.com
- www.lawyers.findlaw.com
- www.lawyers.com
You can also search for lawyers by typing in ?lawyer?
+ ?your state? or ?type of practice? This should bring
up directories for your state only, further narrowing
your search.
Contact Your State Bar Association
Each state has a bar association that can help you
connect with a lawyer that is right for you. All you
need to do is call them up, tell them why you need a
lawyer, and they?ll connect you with one that performs
the types of services you need. However, be aware that
you will usually be charged a fee for this referral
service. It can be worth it though especially if
you?re unsure what type of lawyer you?d need for your
situation.
Visit: http://www.abanet.org/barserv/stlobar.html to
find the contact information of your state bar
association so you can get started.
Legal Assistance Services
If your business is just getting off the ground and
you are currently falling into the ?low-income?
bracket on your taxes, you may qualify for legal aid.
Legal aid offers very low-cost or no-cost legal
services. However, be warned that legal aid typically
deals with individual issues such as those that
involve transactions between tenants and landlords or
family disputes. You can call your state bar
association (find the number by using the link above)
or even your local county court.
Good Old-Fashioned Print Directories
A printed directory may seem like an out of date tool,
but many people, whether individuals or businesses,
still find their lawyers by means of print ads in the
phone book. Pull out your Yellow Pages and start
looking. However, it is important to note that the
phone book does not exactly have the most detailed
listings and you may end up with a lawyer that does
not have the skill set necessary to handle your
business. For a more thoroughly detailed directory,
try the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. This big,
fat book is not one you should purchase. Just go to
your local library and flip through their copy. You
should be able to find plenty of information on
attorneys in your area.
Really, finding a lawyer in your area with the
qualifications you need is fairly easy. The hard part
comes up next when you learn how to find the right
lawyer out of the pack.