Choosing an attorney can be challenging. With countless ads on the radio, television, and billboards, it may be hard to know what to look for or who to call. In fact, in many cases, the attorney featured in those ads does not focus his or her practice on the area where you need help. In reality, most attorneys are not general practitioners; almost all of us specialize in specific areas of the law. There are personal injury attorneys, family law attorneys (divorce, child support, child custody, etc.), criminal law attorneys, estate planning attorneys, and many more. Also, most people’s experiences with attorneys are limited, so they may not realize what (or who) may be a better fit for their situation. For Estate Planning, in particular, the subject-matter is difficult. So, many people want an attorney that they feel comfortable with.
Where should you start? Many go to internet, which is a perfectly fine starting point. Others ask for recommendations from friends, family, or neighbors. In either case, you are likely to get a long list of potential candidates. So, how do you know which attorney to pick? Here are some tips from my experience in the Estate Planning field.
1. Experience/Education.
An attorney’s experience and education are two very important factors to consider. All attorneys must possess a Juris Doctorate (or J.D.) degree (along with a bachelor’s degree). But, the J.D. is a general law degree which says little about their expertise in a certain area of the law. In fact, very few law schools even allow attorneys to have a certain focus while obtaining their J.D. Instead, attorneys gain expertise through practice/experience and, in some cases, post-J.D. education. Therefore, when researching, review the attorney’s website or LinkedIn profile. It should list the attorney’s education, but it should also state how long they have been practicing in the relevant area of the law.
2. Online Reviews.
Once you narrow down your search to a list of attorneys who practice in the needed area, I recommend looking at their reviews next. An attorney will rarely, if ever, inform prospective clients of their poor service or disappointed clients. So, what can you do to ensure you don’t end up in the same boat? Nearly everything has reviews today; even law firms! So, when a client has a bad experience with an attorney, it is becoming more commonplace for that client to let others know. To that end, make sure to check the attorney’s reviews on all the review services (e.g., Google, Yelp, Avvo, Facebook, and more) to help you start to narrow down your choice even more.
3. Convenience.
Another recommendation is to consider proximity. You likely consider proximity when choosing a dentist, doctor, and hair stylist; you should do the same for your attorney. Consider: How long will it take you to get to their office? Is it close to work? Close to home? In the middle? What is the parking situation like? Do you have to pay for parking? Is the building accessible? You are likely going to have an ongoing relationship with this law firm over the years (for example, you will likely want to make changes to your estate plan after significant life events, like the birth of a child, a divorce, or a death in the family), so ensuring the location is convenient is very important.
4. Will you be working primarily with the attorney or staff members?
After considering the first three tips, you will likely have a list of around 3-5 attorneys. Once you have this list, you will want to start making phone calls to setup an initial consultation – a meeting where you sit down with the attorney and/or their staff. During that meeting, I recommend that you ask whether the bulk of the contact and time spent between you and the law firm will be with the attorney or with his or her staff. Personally, I would like the majority of the contact time to be with the attorney (after all, I go to the attorney for their expertise; not for it to be translated through someone else). If you are like me, I recommend making sure that your chosen attorney will dedicate the time to sit down with you and explain everything.
5. Connection.
Finally, when establishing a relationship with an Estate Planning attorney, it is very important to feel a connection with that person and his or her staff, particularly for something sensitive, like estate planning. This connection can start before you meet with the attorney. For example, some people prefer to work with professionals who share their values. If you are one of those people, you might want to look closely at the attorney’s website, which can reveal some of their values. This can help you determine which attorneys to call (and who to not call). In addition, pay close attention to the attorney’s behavior when you meet. Some personalities simply do not mesh well, and if you hope to work with this attorney throughout the years, the connection is incredibly important. If you do not feel that the attorney listens to your concerns, takes enough time to answer your questions and explain your documents, or return your phone calls in a reasonable time, you may want to look elsewhere.
Because Estate Planning is not a “one and done” experience, it is important to spend sufficient time and effort when deciding which attorney to hire. With that said, if you previously hired an attorney who is not a good fit for you, it is never too late to try again. In the end, the most important thing is to find the right attorney.
