What makes a good lawyer?

What makes a firm a good choice for those seeking a lawyer?

• Answer:

  First, you want a firm that deals with your type of case regularly. For example, if you're getting a divorce, you want a firm that handles divorces all the time but if you're a business that has contract and employment issues, you want a firm that deals with small business issues all the time. The best criminal lawyer in town may be terrible if you have income tax issues. Second, stay away from anybody that advertises extensively - good lawyers get most of their business from referrals from existing clients and other lawyers, only the lousy ones need to spend big bucks on ad campaigns. Third, get a referral - either from another lawyer or from someone who has had the same kind of problem that you have now. Lastly, lawyers are sort of like cars - a Rolls-Royce is very expensive and impressive but doesn't do any better getting you to the grocery store than a Chevy but on the other hand you get an unreliable rattletrap either. Avoid the big downtown firms with dozens or hundreds of attorneys and sky high prices, you will pay a lot more than small firm or solo practice and get the same results. On the other hand, stay away from recent grads and part-timers, you might save some money but let them learn on someone else's time.