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.
For over 100 years the directory has provided as complete a roster as possible of the members of the legal profession in the United States and Canada. The directory gives brief biographical sketches of many lawyers and describes the areas of the law in which they practice. Under a referral service, the lawyer will consult with you for a half hour without charge or for a prescribed and nominal fee, and then render whatever services are requested for an agreed-upon fee. If the lawyer cannot handle your problem, he or she will refer you to another lawyer. You should be aware that a lawyer often can ask to be placed on a referral list.