Many times a good lawyer, in the process of handling one situation for you, has the skill and foresightedness to see ways in which similar problems, and even unrelated problems, can be minimized in the future. Choosing a lawyer and law firm with experience may provide you with this valuable service. You may hire a legal genius, but if your calls are not promptly returned, you have no representation. Your lawyer should be responsive to your needs, return your calls promptly and keep you apprised of all pending matters. This is the most misunderstood factor in choosing a lawyer.
Some people survey the hourly rates of lawyers and then choose the lawyer with the lowest rate.
This method is dangerous for several reasons. First, it incorrectly presumes that all lawyers take the same amount of time to complete a task. This is not to say, however, that you cannot shop price. There are some areas of the law that are amenable to price comparisons. However, most tasks for which you will need a lawyer require recognition of the issue or issues involved, and sometimes reworking of the entire structure of the question.