If you were looking for a lawyer to help you manage the purchase of a home, you might ask a real estate agent or bank officer whom they would recommend. If they have been happy with the service they received from a particular lawyer, you most likely will be too. Many lawyers provide a very inexpensive half hour session and from your discussion you can learn if you do really need a lawyer and what sorts of preparatory work you might be expected to do before the case can begin. This is also a good way for you to see if a particular lawyer is someone you feel would represent you well. Thankfully, most people do not have need of criminal lawyers, but there may be occasions when you or someone in your family does need that type of expertise.
Criminal lawyers are quite different from their civil counterparts.
Lawyers train mostly in the civil area in law school so when a new lawyer starts out in a criminal court they are sometimes rather lost unless they are working with a more experienced partner. When facing criminal charges, it is best to look for a lawyer that is experienced in the type of charge you are facing. Someone who handles traffic offenses may not be the best person for a drug trafficking charge. Some law firms have staff lawyers that can handle any area, you may want to check out a few large law firms that offer all services. Courthouses and libraries have legal directories where you can get a list of the lawyers that practise in your area and although court staff can't recommend a lawyer or give legal advice, they can provide you with procedural advice about the charges or issues you are involved in.