Choosing an attorney can be a difficult proposition. There are so many of them out there, and it’s not always clear what the differences are between firms. On top of that, license requirements put limits on how lawyers can advertise, which makes tracking down your options more difficult.
But have no fear! Your best bet is to leverage your personal network, do your homework, and know what you’re looking for. Here’s some advice on how to go about finding the right lawyer for you.
- Ask around for referrals.
Try your family, friends, LinkedIn connections and Facebook friends. Make sure you tell people what type of legal work you’re looking for, and get a couple names so you have options.
Most attorneys have websites, but in my opinion personal referrals are still one of the best places to start. There are a couple reasons for this: One, just because an attorney is good at SEO doesn’t mean they’re good at legal work. (And there are some great attorneys out there with terrible websites.)
Two, it’s very difficult to know what a lawyer is like until you work with them. You want someone who listens to you, gets a full understanding of your goals, is honest and communicative, and is conscientious about their work – not sloppy or rushed. The only people who can really speak to those qualities are past clients.
- Check out websites.
Once you have some names, google them to find their firm’s website. At the very least, the site should list the lawyer’s practice areas. Look for content they’ve produced — like articles and blog posts — that deal with your particular legal needs. Some attorneys will be generalists and practice in a number of areas, for instance family law, estate planning, and bankruptcy. Others will be hyper-niche, like a patent attorney. In general, the more niched down they are, the higher their rates will be. (But that doesn’t always translate to good work, which is why those referrals are so helpful.) Some attorneys who practice multiple areas of law do so because they enjoy working with some of the same clients over time, in various capacities.
- Do a consultation.
Most attorneys offer free consultations for about 10-20 minutes. Pick one lawyer, schedule a consult, and use that time to suss out whether you have rapport with them and whether they’re equipped to meet your needs. Don’t be surprised if the attorney asks for more context and for your broader goals. A good attorney will look past your explicit request to the needs behind it: For example, you might be looking to establish a living trust, but once you explain your reasons, the lawyer might offer another option and suggest why you should consider it. That’s a sign they’re not just mindlessly producing documents — they’re trying to give clients the best possible solution.
- Ask about flat-fee arrangements.
Most attorneys have an hourly rate, but paying an hourly rate can be scary. A lawyer may be able to tell you how long something will take, but she’ll never be able to make a promise to that effect. There are usually just too many unknowns. Depending on the type of work, it might be possible to get a flat-fee rate for the service, which will at least give you the comfort of knowing what you’re spending up front.
- Use your gut.
Once you’ve done all your research and narrowed down your choices, you have to make the final decision with your gut. Working with a lawyer is kind of like driving a car blindfolded: sure, you’re in the driver’s seat, but someone else is steering. Half the time you won’t really understand all the factors that go into your lawyer’s recommendations, and you’ll have to take their word for it that option X is less risky than option Y, or that signing such-and-such document is not advisable. Hopefully your lawyer is a good teacher and can walk you through the basics behind their advice, but a lot still gets lost in translation.
That’s why the number one factor in choosing an attorney is trust. You can compare prices and experience, but ultimately the best legal work comes out of a good working relationship between the lawyer and client. Pick someone you won’t mind corresponding with, whose communication style vibes with yours, and whom you believe is honest.
