Legal Topics > Personal Injury and Health > Injury Accidents > Personal Injury Terms and Procedures

How to Find a Lawyer

Locate a Local Personal Injury Lawyer

How Do I Find a Lawyer?

Finding a good lawyer can sometimes be challenging. In any lawsuit, choosing the right attorney is crucial for the outcome of the case. Thus, the first step for success is learning how to find a lawyer.

Before you begin your search for a lawyer, you’ll want to identify key facts and issues that you think might be critical during the trial. That way you can inform your lawyer of the basic facts once you contact them. Also, you’ll want to learn some of the different methods of how to find a lawyer.

What are Some Ways I Can Get in Touch With a Lawyer?

There are several different approaches for how to find lawyer. To begin with, you should note that some of the traditional routes for finding a lawyer are being phased out by more modern avenues through the internet.

Knowing some basics on how to find a lawyer can take the guesswork out of the search process. If you need advice on how to find a lawyer, here are a few different methods, along with their pros and cons:

Client Attorney Online Matching Services: Online web services like LegalMatch.com are becoming the preferred way of finding an attorney. While such sites are still quite few in number, they often allow for a more thorough, user-friendly experience. Many lawyers are incorporating websites and e-mail into their practice, and many web listings allow users to search lawyer backgrounds.
State Bar Website: The State Bar website has State Bar Certified lawyer referral services which refers potential client to attorneys. After interviewing you, the referral service staff will match you with a lawyer who is experienced in the area of law of your case.
Personal Referrals: You might be able to find a lawyer through a personal referral or a friend who has previously worked with an attorney. The main drawback here is that not every has had experience with lawyers in the past
Advertisements: A good percentage of TV ads and billboards are posted by lawyers. One problem with lawyer ads is that they don’t allow you to conduct a thorough search of the lawyer’s background and performance

It's becoming clear that the quickest and surest method of how to find a lawyer is through an online matching service. While other routes do exist, the legal profession is evolving to incorporate newer search methods.

Do Lawyers Specialize?

Yes. Many lawyers specialize in a particular field of law. To find out whether a lawyer specializes in a particular field of law, the State Bar has a program that is designed to help you find a skilled specialist. Lawyers can become State Bar-certified specialists by passing a written examination, demonstrating a high level of experience in the specialty and also fulfilling ongoing education requirements. Lawyers can become specialized in the following fields:

How Do I Find the Right Lawyer?

Before you meet with any lawyer, make sure to shop around to different lawyers that are experienced in the area of law of your case. Call each lawyer and ask questions that might help you on your decision. Ask about the lawyers overall experience in the area of law and if he or she has handled similar cases as yours.

Many lawyers meet or answer questions free of charge either face to face or over the phone. Write down all the information that you get from the meeting and think about it before you actually hire the lawyer to handle your case. Next ask yourself the following questions after you have interviewed several lawyers:

Will you be comfortable working with the lawyer?
Does the lawyer have extensive experience in the area of law?
Does the lawyer’s fee seem reasonable taking into account the complexity of your case?
Do you understand the lawyer’s vision of your case?
Do you think the lawyer is skilled enough to handle your case based on the questions you asked?

How Much Does a Lawyer Cost?

The cost of hiring a lawyer varies depending on the nature of the case, the complexity of the case, how many hours the lawyer has to spend on the case, the experience and skills of the lawyer, and the area of law the case is in. A more experienced and well-known lawyer will charge more than a lawyer who has just began practicing law. Also, a case that would take a year would be much more expensive than a case that could end in 3 months.

Lawyers can charge hourly or as a flat fee. If a client has a surplus of cash or can afford to pay a lawyer’s bill as they go, a lawyer may be willing to work for an hourly rate. Hourly rates will vary greatly, depending on the relative ability of the lawyer. Expect to pay $100-$500 an hour for a lawyer’s time.

With an hourly fee structure, it is not uncommon for legal bills to get into the $10,000 - $15,000 range quickly. A lawyer who works on an hourly rate may also require the payment of a retainer. This retainer will cover a certain amount of that lawyer’s time. After the retainer is expended, a standard - or potentially discounted - hourly rate will apply.

Any Advice on How to Find a Lawyer Through the Internet?

A preferred way to find attorneys online is by posting your case at LegalMatch.com. LegalMatch is a one of a kind lawyer-client matching service and attorney database. We have a wide range of attorneys available to assist you in your specific geographic area. Rather than having you search through an entire listing, we connect you personally with a qualified lawyer in your region.

To get started, all you need to do is post your case information using our simple online form. Our lawyers in your area will review your case information and provide you with a prompt response by e-mail in 1-3 business days. In order to ensure that you’re making the right decision for your case, you can also review attorney profiles and ratings at LegalMatch.com.

If you need to find a lawyer you can post your case now to receive prompt feedback.

Consult a Lawyer - Present Your Case Now!
Last Modified: 10-04-2016 01:55 PM PDT

Find the Right Lawyer Now