Facing a lawsuit? Planning to launch a business? Whatever the situation is, hiring the most trustworthy lawyer to advise and represent your interests will be a smart choice since the do-it-yourself lawyering has huge limitations. We offer the following advice to help you find, interview and hire the very best legal presentation for the buck.

Do your research

The easiest way is to start with your inner circle like friends, colleagues, neighbors and relatives. While your friend’s divorce lawyer may not have relevant experience when it comes to your medical malpractice case, he may know some fellow attorneys who are perfect for the job. Attorney knows the skill and reputation of other attorneys and can give such information you may not find in a book or online resources; use them for recommendations. In case you don’t want people to know you need legal help, hunt on the sly by checking local bars associations. They have lists of lawyers and some groups provide lawyer referral services for their members. Still have no clue? Then hit the Web. There are some useful online resources for lawyer ranking system, like martindale.com. It rates attorneys on a scale of A, B and C, which is done by other attorneys so the ratings are quite reliable. Lawyers.com and findlaw.com can be of your help too though you should be aware that to be listed there, lawyers have to pay money to these websites.

Size matters

Once you have a shortlist of attorneys in hand, bear in mind that size matters. Law firms come in a variety of size, from one attorney to over 3,000. If it’s a large-scale litigation or a merger and acquisition transaction, opt for big firm. If you want someone to negotiate your retail space or lease of office, small firm can be able to handle that. Nonetheless, remember that a nasty letter to legal opponents from a big shop is a lot more intimidating than a nasty letter from a small firm.

Check their track records

Now you’ve come close to an initial consultation but hold on, before you pick up the phone, spend a little more effort checking their each lawyer’s website. Attorneys often have their own websites providing details about their practice. Find a lawyer who has at least 3 to 5 years of experience practicing in the type the legal work you need and make sure at present he practices in that area of law. Other social media like Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook can be useful resources too.

Ask a lot of questions

The initial consultation is the time for you to meet the attorney, briefly discuss your case and then decide whether he is a good fit for your need or not. For that reason, be prepared to ask a lot of questions relating both the attorney’s practice and your case at the first meeting. Some good questions such as: How many cases have you handled that were similar to mine? What were the results of those cases? What is your strategy for my case? What will most likely be the outcome of my case? How long do you take to respond to phone calls and emails?

Understand precisely how you will be charged

Lawyers charge for their services in several ways but the most popular payment arrangements are flat fees, hourly fees and contingent fees. Therefore, understanding precisely how you will be charge will help you avoid all kinds of headaches later on. The fee structure may vary depend on each legal situation. Personal injury cases are handled on a contingent fee basis, certain business transactions (incorporation for example) are charged on a flat rate basis while most other matters are typically done on an hourly basis.

Ink an engagement letter

At this point you will be ready to ink an engagement letter which a working contract between you and your lawyer. The engagement letter should outline the scope of services provided, all of the terms and conditions of the relationship, including the legal fee, retainer and expenses as well as any other matters you agreed to. Read that letter carefully and if there’s something you are unsure about, call and ask; or else, you will be bound by it.