How Do I Go About Choosing An Attorney?
There is no magical answer to that question. Certainly a good source of referrals for attorneys is simply word of mouth. If you have a friend or an acquaintance that has been well served by an attorney in a particular matter then it may make sense to consult with that attorney to see if he or she can help you in regards to your matter.
The only reliable rating service that exist as to attorneys is the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. Martindale-Hubbell publishes a book which is on-line which rates attorneys in terms of ability and also in terms of ethical standards. In terms of ability, attorneys are rated A, B, C or no rating at all. A is the highest rating. Martindale-Hubbell reports that only 10% of the lawyers in the nation that are potentially eligible to be rated get an A rating. The other rating that is provided by Martindale-Hubbell relates to whether or not the attorneys adhere to high ethical standards. That rating is simply designated by the letter V for very meaning that they are rated as very ethical. As such, an A V rated attorney is considered to be the highest rated attorney under the Martindale-Hubbell rating system.
The Martindale-Hubbell system however is not fool proof. The best way for you to chose an attorney is to interview one or more attorneys for your matter and then make a decision as to which one you think is best qualified and best able to serve your particular interest.
See Brien Roches book Law 101 published by Sphinx Publishing for more information on this subject.
