| Although none of us ever hopes to be in the position | | | | could be someone who has worked for the district |
| of having to find a lawyer, life circumstances are such | | | | attorney's office or who has been a prosecuting |
| that all of us will probably need a lawyer at some point | | | | attorney, as well as a lawyer who has extensive |
| or another. When that time comes, will you know what | | | | criminal defense experience. Likewise, if you are facing |
| to look for? If not, here are four tips that will point you | | | | divorce proceedings and have to deal with issues like |
| in the right direction, whether you live in Indiana, New | | | | custody, child support, or even paternity, look for an |
| Mexico, or Georgia. | | | | attorney who has a family law practice area. Keep in |
| 1. Find an Attorney Before You Need One. | | | | mind, however, that many law firms have several, |
| That may sound counterintuitive, but the likelihood is | | | | seemingly disparate practice areas. A law firm can be |
| great that, when you find that you need an attorney, | | | | competent in several practice areas, either because |
| you won't be in the best frame of mind to use your | | | | they have associates at the firm who specialize in |
| good judgment. If you've experienced a personal injury | | | | certain practice areas or because they work |
| as the result of an automobile accident, for example, | | | | cooperatively with other firms who specialize in certain |
| you may be in too much pain to go through the | | | | types of cases. |
| process of calling attorneys. Likewise, if you've been | | | | 3. Discuss Fees Upfront. |
| picked up on DUI charges, you need to have the | | | | Before you engage the services of an attorney, make |
| confidence that the lawyer you choose is the right one. | | | | sure you understand his fee structure. Many law firms |
| How do you find an attorney before you need one? | | | | charge exorbitant fees simply because they can. Look |
| Simply keep your ears open and ask around. If your | | | | for a lawyer who charges reasonable fees for his |
| neighbor had to hire a plumber and was happy with his | | | | services and for the services of his paralegals. Ideally, |
| work, you might ask her for his name and number and | | | | start with lawyers who offer a free initial consultation. |
| keep it handy in case you ever needed a plumber. The | | | | This will give you the opportunity to assess his abilities |
| same holds true for attorney referrals. If someone you | | | | and will give him the chance to determine whether or |
| know is going through a legal proceeding and seems | | | | not he can be of assistance. |
| happy with his or her lawyer, ask for the lawyer's | | | | 4. Select an Attorney Who is Available. |
| name and keep it handy. | | | | With many large law firms, you rarely get to speak |
| 2. Choose a Lawyer with Experience in Your Type of | | | | with your attorney, and are often shuttled to a |
| Case. | | | | paralegal or legal secretary. The attorney you hire |
| Just as you wouldn't hire a plumber to build you a new | | | | should be available to you, and you should be able to |
| set of kitchen cabinets, you shouldn't retain an estate | | | | reach him (or receive a return call) within a reasonable |
| attorney to build your criminal defense. If you are | | | | amount of time. If your lawyer is too busy to return |
| dealing with drunk driving charges, make sure to select | | | | your call, you need to ask yourself if he's too busy to |
| a lawyer who has had experience as a litigator. This | | | | give his full attention to your legal issue. |