Make a List of Lawyers Who Can Serve Your Needs
The best place to go for a list of lawyers is the lawyers.com law directory, which is the most complete source of information on lawyers available anywhere. It contains accurate and reliable profiles on over 420,000 lawyers and law firms nationwide.
To access the lawyers.com legal directory, choose an area of practice and a geographic location below, and then click on the "Find Lawyer" button. This is a FREE service that we provide to help you find a lawyer. You can do a search confidentially and it won't cost you anything.
If you already have a recommendation on a lawyer, you can check out that lawyer's credentials by typing in his or her name and then doing a search.
If you aren't able to find a list of lawyers in your area, you may have to refine your search. For example, click on "Lawyer" rather than "Firm" and try again. If no attorneys are listed in your town, you may have to expand your search to the next largest metropolitan area. (You should also keep in mind that lawyers have to pay to be in the lawyers.com directory, so not all of them will be listed here. This might be particularly true if you live in a rural area. There are plenty of good lawyers who are not listed in the directory.)
Screen Potential Candidates
With the information you find in the directory, you can quickly and easily evaluate the lawyers on your list. For a checklist of questions to ask yourself, go to Screening Potential Lawyers.
You should also generally understand how different types of lawyers charge for their services. To find out more, you can go to our article on The Price of a Good Lawyer.
Interview the Candidates
You can get ready for your lawyer interviews by looking at our checklists: Interviewing a Lawyer and Hiring the Right Lawyer for You. These checklists will provide you with more helpful tips on how to select a lawyer. You'll get practical information on how to contact lawyers and what to ask them. Set up meetings with your short list of candidates and interview them.
Hire a Lawyer
Assuming that one or more lawyers are interested in your case, the last step would be to hire someone. In making a choice, you may need to make a judgment call. No matter which lawyer you hire, ask that your arrangement be put in writing, in what's called a "retainer agreement."
Maintain an Ongoing Relationship With Your Lawyer
Your job is not done once you hire an attorney. You'll need to keep a good relationship with your attorney and stay actively involved in your case. It's important to keep him or her apprised of continuing developments that relate to your case. You must be available to and cooperate with your attorney and with opposing parties to the extent required by law. Your attorney should likewise remain in communication with you and keep you informed.
Alternatives if You Still Can't Find a Lawyer, or Can't Afford One
For more information on alternative ways to find a lawyer, take a look at our Finding a Lawyer Checklist.
If you can't find a private attorney to represent your interests, or if you can't afford one, there may be other options. All of us are entitled to represent ourselves, but this is probably not the best approach if you have a choice. Some possible alternatives would include government funded programs and self-help clinics. Try reading our article entitled When You Can't Afford a Lawyer, which includes links to Web sites that list local legal services resources.