ABA Family Legal Guide

When and How to Use a Lawyer

1.3 Looking for a Lawyer

Are there any practical considerations to keep in mind when choosing a lawyer?

Yes, the lawyer's area of expertise and prior experience are important. Eighteen states have specialization programs that certify lawyers as specialists in certain stated types of law. These states are Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. To find out which types of law are certified in which states, access www.abanet.org/legalservices/specialization/source.html. In states without certification programs, you may want to ask about your lawyer's areas of specialization. You may also wish to ask about the type of cases your lawyer generally handles.

Other considerations are the convenience of the lawyer's office location, the amount of fees charged, and the length of time a case may take.