BTW, let me also respond to this:
Quote:
|
Seeing a lawyer is scary at first. Print out what you wrote here, let him read it. Let him ask you questions. Don't know who to call? Don't just open the phone book, you've already been ripped off by one professional, don't get sucked into it again. Contact your state's BAR and ask them for a referral. They will refer you to someone who will see you for a small fee and then give you his advice.
|
While I think contacting the local bar association for a referral is certainly better than looking in the yellow pages, you are best served by asking your friends and family members if they have a GOOD attorney. Then, when you contact that attorney, ask him or her what type of practice they have and how regularly they handle matters such as yours. If your matter is complex or a bit out of the ordinary and the attorney does not have a lot of experience in the area, ask him or her for the names of some other attorneys who actually specialize in this area. Otherwise, I would use the attorney referred to you by your friend or family member.
My problem with referrals from local bar associations is that they typically only make referrals to attorneys who pay a fee to participate in their referral program. The bar association does not refer you to a lawyer that they think is particularly good, but, instead, simply refer you to any lawyer who has paid the fee, agreed to take cases of a certain type and is next on their list. Also, good lawyers typically have enough business that they don't need to pay for this type of referral program. With a referral from friends and family members, you are at least getting the name of an attorney who someone thinks is particularly good.