Guides to hiring a lawyer
Short, sourced answers on how to choose a lawyer, what it costs, and when to get help. Each guide starts with the answer and links to the official sources.
Choosing a Lawyer
How to find, vet, compare and hire a lawyer, and what it costs.
How to Choose a Lawyer: A Step-by-Step Guide
To choose a lawyer, identify the type of legal problem you have, shortlist lawyers who handle that practice area near you, confirm each license and discipline record...
Read the guideQuestions to Ask a Lawyer at a Consultation
At a first consultation, ask about the lawyer's experience with your type of case, who will do the work, what your realistic options are, how fees and costs work, how...
Read the guideHow Much Does a Lawyer Cost? Fee Types Explained
Lawyers charge hourly rates, flat fees, contingency fees or retainers.
Read the guideHow to Check a Lawyer's License and Discipline Record
Search the lawyer's name on the official lookup run by the state bar or state court system where the lawyer practices.
Read the guideRed Flags When Hiring a Lawyer
Be wary of a lawyer who guarantees a result, pressures you to sign immediately, will not put fees in writing, asks for payments you do not understand, or cannot show an active license.
Read the guideHow to Find a Lawyer You Can Afford
If you cannot afford a lawyer, start with free civil legal aid through the Legal Services Corporation finder or LawHelp.org, then try bar referral services, law school...
Read the guidePractice Area Guides
When to hire a lawyer for a specific legal problem, with deadlines and costs.
When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer
Hire a personal injury lawyer when someone else's carelessness caused a serious injury, when fault is disputed, when an insurer denies or undervalues your claim, or when...
Read the guideWhen to Hire a Family Law Attorney
Hire a family law attorney when a divorce, custody, support or protective-order issue is disputed, when the other side has a lawyer, when children, a home, a business...
Read the guideWhen to Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer
Hire a criminal defense lawyer as soon as you are arrested, charged, or contacted by police or investigators about a possible crime, even if you believe you did nothing wrong.
Read the guideWhen to Hire an Immigration Lawyer
Hire an immigration lawyer before filing a green card, citizenship, asylum or waiver application, when you receive a Notice to Appear or are contacted by immigration...
Read the guideWhen to Hire a Workers' Compensation Lawyer
Hire a workers' compensation lawyer when your claim is denied or disputed, your injury is serious or permanent, your employer or insurer pressures you not to file, or you are offered a settlement.
Read the guideFor Law Firms
How AI search, directories and your own site affect how clients find your firm.
How AI Search Chooses Which Law Firms to Recommend
No one outside the AI companies knows exactly how AI search chooses which law firms to cite, and no one can promise a mention.
Read the guideDo Directory Listings Help Law Firm SEO?
A directory listing can help a law firm in modest ways: accurate details in more places, a page that may rank for local searches, and some referral traffic.
Read the guideLaw Firm AEO Checklist: Get Your Site Ready for AI Answers
To prepare a law firm site for AI answers, make pages crawlable and indexable, write answer-first pages for each practice area and location you serve, show attorney...
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