Critical Steps for Choosing the Right Lawyer

When facing a legal challenge, choosing the right lawyer makes all the difference in the world. It could literally mean the difference between success and disaster. Here are four steps to take to choose the right lawyer for your situation.

Identify the Subject Matter and Keywords

Just as doctors have specific areas of medicine, lawyers also practice specific areas of law. Here are some examples of areas of law and the keywords for each.

• “Wills and Estates” (a loved one passes or financial planning is needed)

• “Workers’ Compensation” (injury on the job)

• “Personal Injury” (car accidents, slip and falls, defective products, malpractice)

• “Family Law” (divorce, custody, support, equitable distribution, adoption)

• “Contract Disputes” (lemon law, contractor mistake, failure to pay, landlord/tenant)

Research Lawyers by Location and Subject Matter

The next step is to look at the geographic area where you live and/ or where the legal issue arose. For example, if you were injured at work and live in Media, PA, you can search for these words: work injury lawyer Media PA or Delaware County PA. Another example is if you are disabled with a non-work-related disability and cannot work, you might use these search key-words: social security disability lawyer Media PA. Other law-related search engines include Findlaw, Avvo, Martindale, Lawyers.com and Google Business. You may also want to call the Bar Association of the county where you live or where the legal issue arose and speak to someone directly. Bar associations have lists of attorneys for different areas of law, so it’s easier to speak with someone who will help identify what kind of lawyer is needed.

Experience Is Vital for Success

Once you have a list of lawyers to choose from, it’s very important to look for a lawyer who has quite a bit of experience practicing law in the area of your legal issue. Take a look at their resume, website and client reviews. Keep in mind however that sometimes the party from the other side of the case, who did not do well, may give a very good, successful lawyer a bad review. You also have to be careful of reviews from other lawyers because sometimes competitors will do negative reviews of very good lawyers.

Schedule an Appointment to Interview Your Chosen Attorney

Some interview questions to ask include:

• How long have you been practicing in this area of law?

• How many cases have you handled?

• When was the last time you had a case in this area of law, and/ or conducted a trial with presentation of evidence and direct/ cross-examination of witnesses?

You should be in good hands if you choose the lawyer who knows the most about and has the most real-world experience with case law and rules of practice and procedure in the specific area of your legal issue. N S

by Lou Matteo Edgemont Automotive