If you are about to hire an attorney, there are some things you can do to help you make a smart decision and choose a good attorney. Choosing a good lawyer can make all the difference in a case where the legal issues are complex or where the case is likely to drag on for a long time. A good attorney will know the ins and outs of the law that will help speed up your case and give you the best chance of a positive outcome.

The first factor to consider when choosing an attorney is what type of case they have experience and experience with. Many people falsely assume that any lawyer knows all kinds of legal matters and can handle any type of case. The truth is that lawyers are a lot like doctors in that they specialize in certain types of cases. While some may have a general practice and be able to handle a wide range of legal matters, many of the best attorneys specialize in one or two particular areas of the law and become highly knowledgeable in those areas. This is generally the type of attorney you want for your case, because experience handling cases similar to yours is one of the most important factors in choosing an attorney. As the saying goes, there is no substitute for experience.

The second factor to consider is whether this attorney has a disciplinary history. Most states have a publicly visible attorney directory and disciplinary history for their attorneys. You can usually find it on the state supreme court website. This will show you if there have been any significant issues in the attorney’s past conduct with clients that warranted discipline. Depending on what the problem was, you may want to consider another attorney.

Lastly, if possible, you should try to talk to previous clients to see what their experience was like with this attorney. Although every client has attorney-client privilege and the attorney may not have anyone’s permission to use it as a reference, it’s still worth asking. Be sure to ask questions such as how quickly phone calls and emails were answered, whether the attorney made a great effort to resolve the matter quickly, and whether or not the attorney’s outcome was favorable.

By keeping these tips in mind when looking for a lawyer, you’ll have a good chance of finding one that won’t let you down.