Whether you are preparing your will, buying a house, starting your own business, or considering a lawsuit, getting legal assistance is an important part of the process. An attorney can advise you on your rights under the law as well as provide information on legislation that may affect you. Selecting an attorney is similar to selecting a physician.
Attorneys concentrate on specific types of cases as do doctors.
The first step is to define the nature of the matter, and then find the lawyer who can best address your needs. While some attorneys are general practitioners, many lawyers concentrate in the areas of taxation, criminal law, labor relations, workmen's compensation, real estate, and family law, to name a few. However, unlike the physician, in most states there is no process whereby a lawyer can take an examination to demonstrate a specialized area of knowledge. Therefore, you may have to take additional steps to be sure that the attorney you are considering can adequately handle your legal problem. Most people find a lawyer by asking friends, colleagues or neighbors for a recommendation.