Everyone knows someone who has a horror story about an inept attorney, who charged them an enormous amount for little work done on a case. If they were lucky, they saw it early and were able to replace the lawyer. Many people assume that all lawyers are created equal. However, there had to be a bottom of the class in law school. This article will discuss how to avoid finding the wrong lawyer for your case.

Most lawyers specialize in one or a few areas. A divorce attorney may also be a good DUI attorney, but it is highly unlikely that he or she is an expert in both. Try to find a lawyer who only takes DUI cases, or only specializes in cases such as Bankruptcy if you are filing Bankruptcy. One of the biggest mistakes one can make is to pick a lawyer based on a big billboard ad - or a fancy commercial. In fact, most of the best lawyers don't spend a penny on advertising but rely on word of mouth.

Keep in mind that Google reviews can be a good research tool - but by now many businesses these days, including law firms, will pay an external firm to write positive reviews so any review (good or bad) must be taken with a grain of salt. Try to talk to a trusted friend or colleague if they had a similar case such as yours.

When you do narrow down the field of possible attorneys, most will offer a free initial consultation. Use this time to bring a list of prepared questions to ask the attorney. This list should include questions such as how long they have been specializing in their area of expertise, cost, and how much they will be doing the work vs. paralegals in their office. Whether researching specific local attorneys or if your case requires a national level attorney - the most important question: how likely they are to win your case. Even if you have it narrowed down to two or three qualified attorneys - make sure you find him or her personable. You will not only possibly be spending a large amount of time with this person - but this person will be representing you. You don't want others, especially in the courtroom, to be turned off by their demeanor.

When you do finally select your lawyer, keep in mind that he or she is working for you. No matter their experience, if something doesn't feel right to you about your case - make sure you let your attorney know. Remember, you can never spend too much time upfront researching lawyers for your case.