Hiring a lawyer is difficult. These four steps will help you hire the right one.
1: Identify Your Problem and Goal
First, be able to articulate your problem and goal. This is incredibly important, so don’t dismiss this step because you think it sounds like kindergarten advice. Lawyers who practice the same type of law often have different methods and solutions. Take a look at these two examples:
No. 1: “I want to make an estate plan, so that my children are taken care of financially.”
–OR–
No. 2: “I want to make an estate plan, because I want my family business to succeed for three generations.”
Many lawyers can draft an estate plan to accomplish goal no. 1—but you’ll need a business-succession, estate-planning specialist lawyer to accomplish goal no. 2. You’ll be sorely underserved if you hire a no. 1 lawyer for a no. 2 job (and you might grossly overpay a no. 2 lawyer for a no. 1 job).
One way to know you have the right lawyer, is if their cost aligns with market (i.e., reasonable) rates.
2: Understand Cost
Second, understanding the market (i.e., reasonable) cost of services will help you determine what lawyer to hire. Cost is not just a budget concern—it can help you evaluate a lawyer’s services. Here’s an example. If a luxury sports car (like a Porsche) was listed on Craigslist for $100, you probably don’t want it (unless you’re an expert mechanic looking for a restoration project). Likewise, you probably wouldn’t buy a standard sedan (like a Honda Civic) for $100,000 (unless you’re a car collector and this is a custom car).
So, look for a lawyer whose rates match with your situation. The best way to figure this out is with GavelBook.com. GavelBook shows the market (i.e., reasonable) cost of lawyer services, and gives you a customized attorney fee report, which you can use to evaluate your potential lawyer’s prices. If your lawyer proposes charges outside the GavelBook range, show them the GavelBook report, and ask them to explain why their prices are different. They might have a reasonable explanation for the difference—or they might not be the lawyer for you.
3: Use Free Consultations
Third, talk to several lawyers. Most lawyers offer free consultations. Use the free consultations to screen lawyers before you make a commitment to hire one. You can find these lawyers by getting referrals from friends, your banker, or a financial planner, etc. Or you can use an internet search. Whatever method use, make sure you talk to several lawyers before deciding to hire one.
4: Decide
Fourth, go with your gut. The lawyer-client relationship is built on trust—they know a lot more about the law than you do, so it’s very important that you trust they are working in your best interest. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to build trust. You’ll just have to talk to them, see how well they listen to you, figure out if they have the right skills to accomplish your goal, compare their proposed fees with GavelBook, and listen to your gut.
Good luck!
Keep reading in more depth with Step 1: Identify Your Problem and Goal