Most people find a lawyer through a personal referral from friends, family members, or colleagues at work. Most lawyers focus their practice on a few areas of the law. This is important to remember when evaluating references — just because a lawyer did a good job for your friend who bought a house doesn’t mean he or she will be competent to handle something entirely different for you. Keep in mind that your primary goal is to find a capable person to help you address your particular legal issue.

Some other ways to locate an attorney include:

• The American Bar Association (ABA) - The ABA website, www.abanet.org, has a lawyer referral service but does not make recommendations.
• State and County Bar Associations - State and county bar associations often offer a referral service. Look for the number in the telephone directory. The attorneys on these referral lists are often new lawyers starting to build a practice. Although less experienced, they can also be less expensive and more willing to spend time on your case.
• Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory - This is a commonly used directory of lawyers and can be found at most public libraries or at www.martindale.com. Individual attorney listings and law firm listings are organized geographically. While the listed law firms predominately serve corporate clients, firms providing personal legal services can also be found.
• Legal Plans - Check to see if your employer offers a legal plan as a benefit. These plans typically charge a monthly premium and provide basic advice and consultation, usually over the phone. The legal plan should have a panel of participating law firms that have been prescreened. Some plans offer more extensive services such as short office consultations, the preparation of simple wills and the review of basic legal documents.