» By: Paul Cashell

Let’s assume for a moment that you just had a huge argument with your spouse and you’ve decided it’s time to move forward with legal proceedings. Perchance your doctor has done something terribly wrong and you’re contemplating suing him for medical malpractice. Possibly, you’re facing a conflict where someone is accusing you of wrongdoing, and you need advice in regard to your legal recourse. If you were faced with any of these legal dilemmas, would you know how to choose an attorney?

Where Do You Turn…

Once you realize you require legal advice, where would you turn and how do you think you’d go about finding an attorney? Would you just open the phone book and let your fingers do the walking? Although it’s often important to act quickly when taking legal action, haphazardly choosing an attorney can have great consequences. Why? Because when it comes to the law, ignorance is not bliss so choosing correctly means gaining a solid understanding of the law.

Facing a Legal Dilemma…

In reality most people don’t consider the need for an attorney until they are faced with a challenging situation. However, meeting with an attorney who can protect your rights can have a powerful impact on your life for years to come. And though you may have to take action promptly, rather than throwing caution to the wind by choosing any attorney quickly, it’s best to choose wisely and carefully. After all, you want an attorney in your corner that has your best interests at heart.

Approach the Challenge with Intelligence and Organization….

In effect, choosing an attorney is no different then choosing a doctor or any other professional service provider. You want someone you can trust, someone who cares about your situation and someone who is not in it just for the money. Therefore finding a sincere attorney may not be easy, but once you find one, you’ll want to retain and keep their services forever. In fact if you don’t have a good lawyer to advocate for you, without even realizing it, you can suffer great loss. Therefore, approaching the challenge of finding the right attorney with intelligence and organization is a must. Even though it may take some effort, your mental and emotional state will thank you in the long run.

The following 10 tips will definitely lead you in the right direction.

1. One of the best ways of finding the right lawyer is by word of mouth. Perhaps a friend, neighbor or business associate recently retained the services of an attorney and they were satisfied with the end result. Ask if they would recommend their attorney.
2. If you feel uncomfortable letting a friend know that you’re having a legal problem, ask someone you’re not as close to. You may know of a lawyer that you respect but who practices in a different field of law. He or she would be happy to give a referral.
3. Another good way to find a reputable attorney is using an online legal directory where you can discover a number of good tips about lawyer services, initial consultations and links to reputable lawyers in most local areas.
4. Because an attorney is your primary advocate during your legal situation, make sure that whomever you choose, has excellent credentials.
5. Pay attention to how you feel when speaking to a particular attorney. If he or she doesn’t evoke feelings of confidence, choose another.
6. Notice how the attorney responds to your initial call. You’ll need to speak to your attorney, so if you’re not able to connect easily, you’ll add more stress to your life.
7. Make sure the attorney speaks in terms you understand. If the attorney you are considering to represent you speaks legalize, and you have no idea what they’re trying to say, don’t be concerned about requesting an explanation.
8. Never be afraid to ask lots of questions. If the attorney seems annoyed by your questions, he or she is not the attorney to represent you.
9. At the initial meeting, request information as to the attorney’s experience in the particular field for which you are inquiring. And make sure the attorney feels positive about winning your case.
10. Be clear on how the attorney handles legal fees. You don’t want any surprises when it comes to the way the attorney bills for his or her services.

When you’ve chosen the right attorney, he or she will act immediately, won’t waste your time and is clear about their intentions right from the start. So, when seeking out an attorney, look for one that has a reputation of dedication, commitment, and of course has a record of success.

Finally, although an attorney may appear supportive and good-natured, choosing an attorney based solely on their personality can result in grave consequences. An attorney should ALWAYS be selected for their experience so make sure they are considered top notch in their field.

Paul Cashell is the co-creator of a human-edited directory of local lawyers and law firms located at http://www.local-attorneys.com. Paul writes on a variety of topics regarding the partnering of consumers with qualified accounting, legal and professional service firms. Local-Attorneys.com has been created for the express purpose of helping individuals find trusted lawyers or attorneys within local areas. The Local-Attorney’s website features a wide selection of attorneys sorted by legal practices throughout the United States. To contact Paul, you can visit the web site or write him at paulcashell06@yahoo.com.