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 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.

Corporate or Personal Attorney?
Most law firms serve either corporate clients or individuals and families. If your business needs help, go to a corporate law firm. Understand, however, that corporate law firms are usually larger and often more expensive. For personal legal problems, look for a lawyer or law firm that handles personal legal matters.

Many lawyers who serve primarily individuals and families are general practitioners and have experience in handling many of the most frequently needed legal services: divorce and family matters; wills and probate; bankruptcy and debt problems; real estate; criminal; and/or personal injury. Some have a narrower focus. Be sure your lawyer has experience in the area for which you are seeking help.

Narrowing the Field
Once you’ve identified some candidates, call each attorney on the telephone, describe your legal issue and find out if the attorney handles your situation. Ask whether the attorney will charge you for an initial consultation. Also, ask what the attorney usually charges to handle your kind of case.

The initial consultation is an opportunity for you and the lawyer to get to know each other. After listening to the description of your case, the lawyer should be able to outline your rights and liabilities as well as alternative courses of action. The initial consultation is the lawyer’s opportunity to explain what he or she can do for you and how much it will cost. You should not hesitate to ask about the attorney’s experience in handling matters such as yours. Also, do not hesitate to ask about the lawyer’s fees and the likely results. If you are considering going beyond the initial consultation and hiring the lawyer, request a written fee agreement before proceeding.