By Susan Buckner, J.D. | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq. | Last reviewed November 10, 2023
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When you have a legal problem, you need to find a lawyer. Finding a lawyer you trust doesn't have to be difficult. There are many ways to find reliable legal help if you know where to look. This article will take you through:
There are a couple of things to keep in mind at the beginning of your search:
There are many ways to find a lawyer. You need a way to find a good lawyer. Unfortunately, there are no ways to find which types of lawyers are good or bad. But these tips can help you find experienced and knowledgeable attorneys in your area and methods of sorting through them.
Friends and relatives are a great way to find a knowledgeable attorney. They have first-hand experiences with their attorneys and can give you insight into how they operate. If you need help in a hurry, for criminal cases or some emergency civil cases, personal referrals are ideal.
Your legal issue may be different than your family member's case. Even similar legal matters are different. But, the attorney may know another lawyer who can take your case. Attorneys regularly refer clients to one another.
FindLaw's Lawyer Directory is one of several online legal directories that offer attorney listings across the U.S. As the premiere attorney search locator, FindLaw allows you to search for a lawyer by legal issue (e.g., personal injury, probate, elder law), location (i.e., state, county, city, and metro), and name.
FindLaw's directory helps you pinpoint relevant local attorneys and includes features to help you find the right attorney. It includes descriptions of the law firm practice area, easy links to attorney websites, and information about their background and experience.
State bar associations are a good way to locate a lawyer in your state. Most bar association websites contain listings of attorneys licensed to practice in the state. You can search for lawyers by name, location, and legal practice area. Some also allow you to conduct more advanced searches, such as finding a lawyer who speaks a specific language. County bar associations are another resource if you want a more localized search.
State bar association listings are not recommendations or endorsements. You should still research and come prepared to the first meeting to determine if the lawyer is right for your situation.
Most states have volunteer legal organizations that can lead you to a lawyer. These organizations often include minority bar associations, legal aid societies, and law schools. They may focus on representing a specific type of client, such as low-income, or a particular practice area, such as immigration, public service, or family law. You can often access the names of volunteer legal organizations through a state's bar association website.
Legal clinics sometimes offer free legal help from volunteer or pro bono attorneys. These attorneys may have referrals to low-cost firms that can take your case. Most of these clinics can't take your case themselves. Free and low-cost/no-cost clinics usually provide legal assistance only, such as help with filling out forms and where you pay filing fees.
Lawyer referral services can help direct you to nearby lawyers based on specific criteria, such as practice areas or legal services, such as immigration, domestic violence, or legal aid. Since lawyer referral services are like phone book listings, you may need more information about the lawyer's experience or qualification levels.
Advertisements about a lawyer's services may provide valuable leads to attorneys in your area. It's a good idea to do extra fact-finding to determine a lawyer's reputation and experience level in your area of law. Attorneys also have social media sites and blogs that offer general legal information.
While it doesn't hurt to contact a lawyer you find through an advertisement or other assistance program, you should have questions for your first meeting with the lawyer.
Getting legal help online is straightforward. But, not all websites and attorney directories are equal. Make sure that the attorney you find is local and qualified. You can check the state bar association to ensure the attorney you work with is in good standing.
You can also find other basic information about the attorney you are looking to hire, such as what law school they went to, their contact information so you can call or email to get information about the first consultation, and what local bar associations they belong to.
Regardless of how you find your lawyer, the first meeting is important in deciding who you go with. At the initial consultation, you can discuss legal fees, such as whether your attorney will charge a contingency fee, hourly rate, or flat fee. Many law firms will also note in their listings if they offer free consultations to discuss your potential case.
Once you're ready to start contacting your list of lawyers, you may wish to read the following:
Once you have a potential attorney in mind, but before you sign any fee agreement, you have one more step. Research the attorney's discipline record and investigate whether the attorney can practice law. The state bar disciplinary board records whether someone sued the attorney for malpractice or a court sanctioned them or suspended their license. This is a step everyone should take before paying any retainer or other fee to an attorney.
Now that you know how to find an attorney, you can begin your search to find the right lawyer.
Contact a qualified attorney to make sure your rights and interests get protected.
You want a lawyer who:
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