How to research a lawyer’s reputation

Finding yourself in the situation that you might need a lawyer can be frightening, knowing you have found an attorney who is reputable is of utmost importance. There are a lot of lawyers in the world, but not every one of them has a good reputation. There are many facets of finding an attorney with a good reputation and record.

Research, research, research

In this day and age, there are multitudes of research methods and the internet is the most obvious. Google reviews, Yelp reviews and even social media reviews can give you some insight into an attorney. Of course, the age-old, firsthand knowledge of a friend or coworker could be a wealth of information on the reputation of a lawyer as well. There are industry-specific websites and publications as well that can be great resources. And the legal field is no exception, like other businesses, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is another resource in researching an attorney or law practice.

Check their license

In order to practice law, an attorney must be licensed in the state. Licensing is completed through the state bar associations and they are a great resource to researching the licensing of an attorney. Every state bar association also has a disciplinary organization that monitors the attorneys in their jurisdiction and investigates any complaints against their lawyers.

Ask the experts

Thanks to technology there are a lot of resources on the internet that can assist you with locating an attorney in your area or specific to your need. You can always visit Avvo and search their legal directory.

Never venture blindly into an agreement with an attorney. Do your research. Check their credentials and their license. Ask the experts, whether it is someone who has used them or the industry-specific databases.