When you need a lawyer, you want to find someone who is knowledgeable about your particular legal issue and who will be dedicated to your case. Finding a lawyer in your area who meets these criteria can be difficult, especially if you are unfamiliar with what qualities to look for. Fortunately, there are several online resources you can use to aid you in your search. The following are a few of the best of these.
Lawyers.com
This is a good place to start your search. When you go to the Web site, you have the option to search for a particular lawyer or law firm or to search for lawyers within a certain area of practice. For example, if you need an attorney specializing in child custody, you simply type that into the search field. If you already know of a lawyer or law firm and want to find out more, you can search for that directly. The only other information they need is your location.
You can then view the profiles of specific lawyers who meet your search criteria. Many have ratings and reviews submitted by previous clients, so you can learn from their experiences. Peer ratings from judges and other lawyers are also sometimes included. Each profile contains at least some information about an attorney’s specialty areas of practice, fees, and other details to help you make your decision.
LegalMatch.com
This Web site goes a step further by helping to match you to a lawyer in your area who is interested in your particular case. You submit information about your legal issue, and they e-mail lawyers in your area who specialize in that issue. These lawyers review your case and contact you directly if they are interested in representing you. You can then choose which, if any, of these lawyers you would like to hire. This service is entirely free, and there is no obligation involved.
Martindale.com
Once you have narrowed your search to a few lawyers or law firms, this Web site can help you make the final decision. Martindale-Hubbell is known as a trusted source of legal information and has published impartial ratings and profiles of attorneys since 1896. They have now brought this service online. At this site, you can search for specific lawyers to find out how they are rated by Martindale-Hubbell. You can also view detailed information about their credentials and experience, which is helpful when you are trying to choose the right lawyer.
FindLaw.com
FindLaw.com has a comprehensive lawyer directory, with search parameters (such as bankruptcy, litigation, and divorce) and location (such as city or zip code). FindLaw.com also has numerous advice articles and legal question and answers.
