Saturday, March 28, 2009

How To Find An Attorney

By George Brown

In an ideal world we wouldn't find ourselves in need of an attorney. But, we don't live in an ideal world. In life, as the saying goes, stuff happens and we often have no control over what happens to us. So, we may find ourselves in need of legal help during a divorce, a personal injury case or even a criminal case. Or, we may start up a new business and need legal help to represent us.

But, as most of us don't need legal help on a regular basis, it can be hard to know where to start when it comes to finding the right attorney at the right time. This is especially true if you need legal help for an unusual occurrence such as an accident or a medical malpractice suit.

It's wise to remember, if you do need an attorney, that finding an attorney may be your first step but it is not the most important one. The most important step here is to make sure that the attorney you find is a good one who can do the right job for you.

If you need an attorney but do not know where to make a start you could always try talking to friends and family in your local area to see if they have any recommendations that will be useful for you. So, for example, a friend who has just been through a divorce may be able to recommend a divorce attorney that you could use if you find yourself in the same situation.

If you cannot go down a recommendation/referral route then you may want to look for local attorneys in a phone or web directory. This will allow you to draw up a list of potentially suitable attorneys but it won't necessarily help you work out how suitable they are. Your state bar may also be a useful source of information here but you may need to do some extra research at this stage.

Web sites are always a good way of learning more about an attorney or firm -- most every attorney will have their own website nowadays. You can also simply call up and ask about the services that they offer if you prefer. Remember, there is nothing wrong with meeting with a few attorneys before you choose the one that you will ultimately use.

Often the best attorney for your needs will be the one that you feel most comfortable with and trust the most. It is important, however, not to forget to check how qualified and experienced an attorney is before you use their services. So, check on their legal qualifications and ask how much experience they have in their field. There is no point picking an attorney who you like only to find that they do not have the experience to represent you in the right way.

A lot of people assume that using a newly qualified or relatively inexperienced attorney is a route that should be avoided. This isn't necessarily the case. Sometimes, hiring a new 'young gun' can work well for you as your attorney here may be keen to get some cases under their belt.

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