At some point in life, most people will end up facing some form of legal threat. Whether you’re one of the two-thirds of women filing for divorce or one of the over 1.4 million people facing DUI first offense charges, you need to get legal advice. In such situations where you need a reputable lawyer, here are some tips on how to find one.
Consider your situation
Like doctors or any other professional, lawyers have different areas of expertise. If you need help with estate planning, you’re not going to seek legal help from a divorce lawyer, right? Every lawyer has a basic understanding of the legal system, but not everyone knows the nuances and details of a specific field. When searching for a reputable lawyer, first narrow down your search based on your case. Odds are you’ll join the 44% of people who end up checking individual lawyers’ websites instead of whole firms.
Word of mouth
Personal referrals and recommendations are how most people find the legal advice they need. If a friend or a family member has been in a similar situation and knows a very good lawyer, you should listen to them! A referral from a trusted friend is worth more than all the web searches in the world.
Contact your local bar association
Both the American Bar Association and other state and local bar associations offer search and referral tools that can make your task much easier. Bar associations are not able to give you direct assistance, but they can provide wholesale listings of practicing and certified lawyers who specialize in cases like yours.
Contact your insurance company
In many cases, your auto insurance company will be able to represent you in court after an accident, but home and renter’s insurance may also step in if something arises in that subject area. These services are not guaranteed, but giving their legal department a call for referrals can be useful to you.
Now that you’ve gathered some resources and referrals, it’s time to make phone calls. It will be useful to have all legal documentation concerning your situation available when speaking to a lawyer, and after a short question and answer session, you may be able to tell which lawyer is right for you.