If you need professional assistance for a legal matter, finding a suitable lawyer may be key to solving it. How can you do it?
Start by asking friends and relatives for recommendations; perhaps someone knows of a legal professional they could refer you to.
Once you have identified a few potential candidates, review their websites carefully for information regarding their practice area, education and work experience.
Referrals
Referrals are an integral component of law firm marketing strategies, but developing an effective referral program takes proactive networking and genuine relationship-building efforts.
Reach out to professionals outside the legal sphere, such as financial planners and real estate agents who regularly encounter clients with legal needs. Attend cross-industry events to foster relationships that could result in referrals.
Be mindful to follow American Bar Association rules when making referrals: your client should decide if he/she wishes to contact the attorney you refer, while any referral attorney cannot contact your client without your prior permission (except in emergency situations). Filevine offers an effortless solution for finding experienced legal assistance: our free online attorney directory matches you with qualified and pre-screened attorneys that meet your specific needs.
Online Attorney Databases
Many attorneys maintain a website offering useful information about their practice and types of cases they accept, client reviews and testimonials to help guide your selection process, and testimonials that can give an indication if they’re the best match for you.
Lexis Advance and Westlaw are online legal research databases with subscription plans that offer access to case law, federal statutes, state laws, administrative rulings and legislative histories as well as secondary materials such as treatises, law journals and legal newspapers.
While much of this material can be found for free online, paying for a database offers several distinct advantages over free websites. Commercial databases often incorporate newly enacted statutes more quickly, as well as providing superior technical and research support – making paying for one a wise choice for many researchers.
State Bar Websites
Some states mandate law firms submit their websites for review prior to going live; these sites must also comply with attorney ethics rules regarding what should and shouldn’t be included on an legal website.
Some state bar websites allow you to search for attorneys by name, bar number and registration status; you may even be able to see whether any disciplinary history exists with them.
New York’s UCS website makes searching for attorneys easy by providing bar numbers and registration status of those returned as search results. Furthermore, this information allows you to locate any attorneys with discipline or disbarment records – some public while others confidential – so you can avoid lawyers with such records.
Yellow Pages
Yellow Pages is a phone directory organized alphabetically by category that dates back to America and can be found throughout English-speaking nations.
Online directories have evolved with the digital world and remain invaluable resources for many businesses. They help connect local consumers to businesses while providing other marketing opportunities online.
Make the most out of your yellow pages listing by making sure all information is accurate and current, while also being consistent across other platforms like Google My Business, Yelp and social media. This will enable your customers to easily locate an attorney for their legal needs while monitoring reviews can attract new customers while simultaneously improving your business’ reputation.
Local Referral Services
Local referral services provide names of attorneys based on your location. Some specialize in real estate and tax law while others have general attorney directories. These services may be free or charge a fee; some are run by government entities like county, city and township law departments while others by private businesses.
Personal references can also be invaluable. Get suggestions from friends, family and colleagues; inquire about their experiences working with the lawyer; seek any insights into avoiding common errors. Keep track of what information is given out, follow-up with call or letter and keep a log. When appropriate a written memorandum of understanding could provide reliable contact and documentation of interactions throughout.