Don’t be scared or nervous by the thought of hiring a lawyer. Their job is to help you find the best solution to your legal issue. Here are a few scenarios of when it is best to hire a lawyer:

• You were in a car accident, slip and fall, or other accident and suffered an injury
• You were accused of a crime, DUI, or other violation
• You’re facing a family problem such as divorce or child custody dispute

If you are facing any of these issues or a number of other ones, you should consider talking with several lawyers before choosing one.

There are a number of many ways to find a reliable lawyer. One of the best is a recommendation from a trusted friend, relative, or business associate. Be aware, however, that each legal case is different and that a lawyer who is right for someone else may not suit you or your legal problem.

The internet offers a treasure trove of information that you can use for doing your homework on a particular lawyer before you decide to set up a consultation or pull the trigger and hire them as your counsel. Here are a few easy ways to research whether a lawyer is credible or legit? Each licensed attorney should appear on your home state’s bar association website. Enter their name and you find basic contact info, whether they can actively practice law, and any ethical trouble they may have gotten into.  You can Google the lawyer’s name or firm and you should find any news stories, publications, or websites associated with them. Check out the attorney’s website to see accolades, publications, testimonials, and even whether an attorney offers free consultations. You can use our platform Lawyers 4 You to search for attorneys in your area that specialize in your legal problem. Lawyers 4 You offer a unique lawyer directory that provides a comprehensive profile for each attorney with information to help you select the right attorney.

If your legal problem is complex or involves lots of money, you may not want to try to handle it on your own, without having a lawyer representing your case. Ideally, you’ll want to find a competent and savvy lawyer to guide you through the complicated legal process. However, locating a good lawyer who can efficiently help with your particular problem isn’t always so simple. What is the lawyer’s track record of performance or success in case outcomes? How do you know they are worth the money? Asking for referrals from friends and family can help as you start your search. Here are a few suggestions, ask other attorneys? If you know any other lawyers you can start your search with them, to see if they know any lawyers who they recommend in that practice area? Check their experience and track record. How long have they worked as a licensed attorney, and how many case have they tried. Review their track record. Have they won a lot of cases in that specialty, or do they prefer to settle? Check their reviews.  Call and speak and interview a few lawyers and review your notes from the calls. You also may want to search for a board certified attorney, because having a certification in a specialty field of law has become an important way for attorneys to gain recognition for their specialized practice. For the public, the certification validates the lawyer’s claim of experience, special skills, or focus in a particular area of the law.  Board and specialty certification programs also provide the public with a useful tool when they begin their search for a qualified attorney to handle their particular case. Also conducting a search on your local or state bar association’s attorney directory, which is a list of lawyers in your area.  Make sure the lawyer you’re interested in is an active member of your local state bar association. You can also see if they’re a part of other law associations, too.

Finding a good attorney is hard. How can you be sure that the attorney you are considering is any good? Once you have a narrowed down list of potential attorneys, schedule a meeting with each one. Prepare a list of questions beforehand to learn more about their experience, capabilities, trustworthiness, strategy, and proven results. The following questions could be useful.  If I hire your firm, will you be the attorney handling my case? Have you handled cases like mine before? Are my goals realistic for this case?  What is the likelihood of success? What should I be most concerned about? How would you approach my case?  Who is your typical client? What percentage of your practice is devoted to (the practice area in question)? What are your attorney fees and costs, and how are they billed? What is your success rate? Will you have time to devote to my case? Can you provide references? These questions are a starting point should give you general knowledge of a specific lawyer’s experience and skill-level, and whether the lawyer is a good fit for you. If you’re looking to take the next step of speaking with a lawyer, check out Lawyer 4 You’s attorney directory to find an experienced professional in your area.