Choosing the Right Lawyer

I would ask a lawyer what their rating is with Martindale-Hubbell^®. The Martindale-Hubbell rating system is the most prestigious peer review rating system for lawyers in the country. I think that's a factor that should be considered when anyone chooses a lawyer.

I would ask the lawyer what his jury trial experience has been, whether he has been successful in court, whether he's been in court at all. I would ask how many cases the lawyer has successfully resolved—whether he has studied negotiation and mediation law, which ends up being the critical way to settle over 95 percent of the cases that are out there. I would ask what the financial resources of the firm are—whether the law firm is willing to advance all client costs of litigation, so that the client doesn't have to come out of pocket at all. I would ask a lawyer what his or her disciplinary record is with the state bar—whether the lawyer's been reprimanded, suspended, or disbarred at any time. I would ask whether the law firm has received referrals from other lawyers, whether the law firm has received referrals from judges or insurance adjusters or insurance defense lawyers, who would have special knowledge of abilities of every lawyer.

I would ask those questions to help make a decision on whether this lawyer has the professional ability to successfully resolve the case. But I would also ask myself, if I were a client, whether I click with this lawyer: Is this somebody that I can get along with? Is this somebody that I can feel like I can open up and share the facts of the accident—the difficulties that I'm suffering? That he's accessible? That he listens to me? That he calls me back? That he communicates with me, with understanding, with care, and empathy?

I think all of those things are great, important, and serious factors to consider when anyone chooses a lawyer. No one should choose a lawyer based upon advertising alone. No one should choose a lawyer based on their track record alone. But I think those two factors rolled into one, are the most important ways to evaluate whether this lawyer is right for you.