How to Find A Lawyer In Los Angeles
Want to know how to find a lawyer in Los Angeles? Preparing for tomorrow is the smartest thing you can do today. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Legal matters can pop up at any moment, so it’s important for you to understand how to find a lawyer in Los Angeles quickly and efficiently.
To help you get started, it’s important to understand lawyers specialize in a specific area law, including personal injury, criminal defense, and other areas of law. This allows lawyers to develop a full understanding of the area of law and provide their clients with exceptional service.
This also helps reduce how long it takes you to find a lawyer.
Now, let’s take a look at how to find a lawyer quickly!
1. Ask Your Friends for Help
You can start by asking the people you know – your family, friends, and coworkers. Maybe a neighbor has used a lawyer in the past. The upside of personal references like these is the convenience. The downside is that the referred lawyer may not specialize in the kind of law you need.
Another downside is that the scope of your case might be different from the one your neighbor had. Or perhaps the lawyer joined another firm with a different legal focus. Because the time of your case is different from those of friends and family, the lawyer may no longer be available to help you.
2. Ask a Lawyer for Recommendations
You may have used a lawyer in the past, maybe for some advice on estate planning or to create a will or trust. Maybe you had a lawyer write a letter for you or review some documents. You can always ask that lawyer for a reference.
The upside is again convenience. It is easy to ask someone you have worked with in the past. The downside is that this lawyer may steer you to a colleague in his or her law office who may not be the best choice for you. And your lawyer friend may not know of other attorneys better qualified to help you.
3. Try Searching a Database
There are databases you can search to find an attorney. These are directories that provide information on lawyer specialties, locations and practice areas, lawyer reviews and disciplinary records.
It is relatively easy to do, but the danger is similar to searching for anything on the Internet. You really aren’t sure of the validity of the information you find. Are those legal firms that are listed just marketing their services better than other firms? If so, this tells you nothing about the quality of their work.
4. Let an Attorney Referral Service Search for You
If you want to find a lawyer quickly, contact an attorney referral service and tell them about your legal situation.
An attorney referral service will evaluate your legal matter and find the best lawyer in Los Angeles for you. In some cases, the attorney referral service will be able to set up a free consultation. This is an important opportunity for you to assess whether or not you’re comfortable with the lawyer.
The attorney referral service should be certified to make referrals.
For example, the Attorney Referral Service of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association is a certified lawyer referral service that’s approved by the American Bar Association, making it the best place to start your search if you need to find a lawyer in Los Angeles.
Find a Lawyer Who Offers a Free Consultation
You’re going to be working closely with your lawyer, so it’s important that you feel comfortable and confident about your lawyer.
One of the easiest ways to ensure you select the right lawyer is to arrange a free consultation, which involves a conversation between you and your lawyer and provides an opportunity to ask questions about the lawyer’s experience, your legal matter, and expectations.
Once you find that lawyer who might be the one for you, have a list of questions you can ask during that first interview. Ask if he or she is qualified and certified in the area of expertise you need. How long has the attorney been practicing this area of law? Ask for references.
Many states have certification programs for lawyers including the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils and the National Elder Law Foundation.
You should ask if the lawyer works only in one area or multiple areas? The caseload could be 50 percent personal injury, 25 percent divorce, and 25% some other area.
You should also ask whether or not this attorney will be the one working with you or will there be someone else from the same office handling your case? Sometimes a lawyer will turn a case over to his or her staff, and you want to know who will be working directly with you. If it is someone else, ask to meet that person.
Ask about the preferred type of communications. Do the attorney and staff like to communicate through emails or texting? Will they get return your calls in 24 hours or less? Can you reach them after hours? What happens if and when they go on vacation?
Other Considerations
You may have prepaid legal services that are offered by many companies as part of their insurance package. Some of these plans cover only consulting while others cover the entire cost of legal assistance. You should check with your employer to see if you have such a service.
Depending on your particular situation, you may be entitled to receive free legal assistance. You could look for clinics and legal aid offices that offer free legal services to those in need. Many of these offices have their own lawyers or work with volunteer lawyers or legal professionals who assist them.
A qualified and established attorney referral service will steer you in the right direction, either referring you to free legal services or to organizations that can help you or lead you to a qualified and certified attorney specializing in your area of law.
We Can Help Find a Lawyer for You
As an attorney referral service in Los Angeles, we’re more than happy to help you find a lawyer for your legal situation. To get started, please tell us a little about your legal matter and we’ll be in touch shortly.
If you prefer speaking to someone over the phone, you can call 818-697-0604
Are you in search for a certified attorney to represent you?
Let us help you find one today!
