Finding the Right Lawyer

Lawyer locating resources

One of the best known resources in the legal community for choosing an attorney is the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. It can be found at your local library or county law library. Information can also be found at www.martindale.com. The Martindale-Hubbell directory offers peer ratings of attorneys' expertise and ethics.

Another excellent resource for finding the right lawyer is the National Board of Trial Advocacy (www.nbtanet.org). The NBTA is a non-profit organization accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) to certify lawyers who practice civil law, criminal law, family law, and social security disability law. NBTA-certified attorneys must be in good standing, have sufficient trial experience, pass a six-hour exam, and be peer reviewed by three judges and three attorneys.

For further help and information, you can also visit the ABA at www.abanet.org.

What to ask during an initial consultation

We recommend making appointments with two or three lawyers before making your decision. This initial consultation should be free, though you will need to confirm that with the attorney. The consultation is a chance to form a personal impression of the lawyer, and to ask some important questions:

What is his/her experience in this area?

Will your case be handled personally or given to a less experienced member of the firm?

Is the fee structure flat, hourly, or contingency-based?

Do those fees include court costs and office costs, i.e. copies, faxes?

How often will you be billed, i.e. monthly, bi-monthly, or lump sum?

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