The Truth About Picking an Attorney
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San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyer
All rights reserved.

The truth is it can be difficult to pick the right attorney out of the attorney advertising noise that consumers face. Consumers are exposed to claims on TV, radio, in phone books and in newspapers. How can the consumer know the truth that will enable them to make the right choice in what can be a very difficult time in their lives and the lives of their families. In this article I will give you some tools that will empower you in this challenging environment.

First let’s talk about the myths about lawyers!

• All lawyers have the same experience training!

• The State Bar determines whether a lawyer can advertise himself as a Personal Injury Lawyer!

• All law firms will take my case to trial!

• A lawyer who is good at DUI will be a good Personal Injury Lawyer!

• All lawyers carry Malpractice Insurance!

• If a lawyer advertises that he takes Personal Injury cases it is because he is has experience in Personal Injury!

• Calling a Lawyer Referral service is the way to find a competent lawyer!

• Lawyers who have a big ad in the Yellow Pages must be successful because they can afford this advertising!

• Lawyers who advertise on TV must be the best and most successful!

• The internet sites that offer to find you a Lawyer are careful to screen the lawyers they allow to post names on their site!


The answer to these myths is NO! Not all lawyers are created equal nor do they possess equal experience, education and training. The State Bar does not determine who can advertise as a Personal Injury lawyer, the lawyer’s license is all that he needs. Many law firms are not committed to taking your case as far as it needs to go to get you what you deserve.


Your local DUI or divorce attorney may not be the right choice to represent you in your serious personal injury case. He may be a great DUI attorney, but does he know Personal Injury? Has he handled a case like yours where the questions can be complex and the injuries are serious?

Malpractice Insurance is NOT REQUIRED of attorneys! This means if your lawyer does not carry this coverage and he makes a mistake you may be out of luck! That’s right; you may have to look to the lawyer’s personal assets to recover for what can be a catastrophic loss! If he cannot afford to buy malpractice insurance, what does that tell you? You are out of luck!

Lawyer Referral Services are a nice idea, but an idea that is flawed! Not unlike the internet “find you a lawyer sites” they do not adequately screen. They are an institution and we have come to understand that we cannot always depend on the institutions we once believed in! Just ask the Katrina victims if they want to rely on institutions for protection!

Because a guy is on TV or has a big two page yellow page ad does not mean he is successful or qualified! All it means is he shelled out a lot of money to make people think he was the guy to call! TV stations and yellow page companies do not care if the guy is competent; all they care about is if his check will clear! Is that the way you want to decide who is going to protect you and your family?

OK, now we see the problem you face in finding a qualified Personal Injury Lawyer! But, what do we do about it? How can you be empowered to make the right decision that can affect your life for years to come? Let’s talk about some things you CAN DO to get the RIGHT LAWYER!

The first thing you must realize is that this is an important decision! Some people will spend hours at Best Buy looking for the best DVD player and then calls the first lawyer they see advertise on TV. DON’T DO IT! This decision may mean the difference between getting what you deserve and what the attorney sees as a quick settlement! Take your time do your research!

Do you know lawyers in your area? They may be a good first start! They may not know how to handle your case, but they may be able to give you the name of a law firm that is experienced in your type of case.

Do you know anyone who has used a lawyer? Find out about their experience with a particular lawyer. Again it may not be the right lawyer for your case, but this law firm may be able to lead you to the qualified lawyer you need.

Begin your market research and start putting together a list of prospective lawyers you might consider. Pull out those yellow pages and look at the lawyers you find. Many lawyers and law firms will tell you what they focus on. Surf the net with the same focus. Make a list and pare it down to a number you feel will give you the potential choices you need to make a wise decision.

The next step is to call the lawyers and ask for written information about the law firm and what they do! Just like buying a car, the best way to begin your research is in your own home away from any pressure. You want to make this decision without any high pressure tactics. Most lawyers offer free consultations, but this is not the most time efficient way to begin your research! Ask the lawyer for FREE WRITTEN AND AUDIO INFORMAITON ON YOU TYPE OF CASE! Ask them to send you anything they feel will help you make a decision on the best lawyer to hire. If they have nothing to send you MARK THEM OFF YOUR LIST!

After you have done your preliminary homework and reviewed all the written information the lawyers have provided you, you are ready to meet with your prospects.

Do not be afraid to ASK QUESTIONS! The best most qualified lawyers will welcome your questions. They will know that you have done your homework! They would rather represent a truly prepared client! They want a client that is committed to getting the best legal representation available.

But what should you ask?

• How many years have you been in practice? This will tell you much about the attorney’s potential experience. But, also ask what they have done all those years!

• Do you have real experience handling a case like mine? You do not want a guy who sees your case as a new experience he would like to try! You wan someone with the experience to do the job for you!

• What challenges do you see in my case? He should be able to explain to you what he sees as the challenges you face and what they could mean to the ultimate result.

• Does the lawyer carry malpractice insurance? This will give you a degree of safety should he make a mistake and it will tell you a lot about the lawyers commitment to his clients.

• Are you a member of the Consumer Attorneys of California? This is an organization that is made up only of attorneys who are committed to the rights of consumers.

• Are you a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America? This is an organization of attorneys committed to your right to a trial by jury and the real education of its members!

• Are you a member of any bar other than California? Has he been admitted in other states in the country? This may help you determine his qualifications and amount of experience.

• Is he admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court? This may not be required in your case, but it is one more qualification factor you can use.

• Has the attorney been disciplined by the California Bar Association? It is important for you to know that your lawyer is honest and ethical. You can get this information at www.calbar.ca.gov.

• Have you taught in Law School? This will show if he is a real communicator and his involvement in the profession!

• What procedures do you follow in the handling of my case? The attorney should be able to give you a clear idea of what you should expect.

• Who are the people and what are the qualifications of the people who will work on my case? Most attorneys work with a team. Who is that team? You need to know they are the team you need!

• How will you keep me informed about my case? You must feel comfortable with the attorney’s commitment to communicate with you! Will you really be kept informed of developments in your case?

• How will you determine what my case is worth? This is a difficult question that a qualified attorney should be able to answer.

• Do you represent insurance companies? If they work for insurance companies they may be too biased to be fair to you!

• Do you represent big corporations? Again, they may be too biased it they are on the side of big business.

• Can I take a copy of your fee agreement with me to review? Do not assume that they are all the same. If they say no, leave!

• Does the attorney regularly attend continuing legal education? This may be a key in finding a really dedicated attorney that is going to bring valuable education to your case.

Rank the importance of the answers you think apply to your particular case. You are going to be looking for the most qualified, dedicated, experienced, educated attorney you can interview. In the end, it is going to be that attorney’s ability to really communicate with you! You must feel you have the best attorney possible for your case! This will allow you to sleep at night knowing that your legal rights and financial rights are truly in the right hands.

I hope this information has been helpful! We know this is a difficult decision at a very challenging time and we are committed to empowering you as a client! Remember it is your case and you are in control! The civil justice system is not perfect by any means, but it is there to provide you justice! The right attorney will play a large factor in that quest!