You want someone who communicates the good, the bad and the ugly. Consider the case of one owner-manager, who got an opinion on a problem from her law firm, which basically dealt with the specific legal issue. When she asked another firm for its opinion, she received a much more comprehensive analysis that included the strengths and weaknesses of her position, the likely outcome, and suggested strategies to eliminate the problem. She quickly switched to the practice that cared enough to communicate effectively. When you're forging a relationship with a lawyer, look at how he runs his own operations.
Some lawyers like to accumulate time for months before sending a big bill.
Legal advisers that do not phone back give the appearance that you are working for them. Look at the quality of the people supporting your lawyer. If you do not see competent employees, chances are this person will not provide the service you are paying for. Most legal advisers charge clients based on the hours they put into a file. But good ones look at the value added and the outcome and adjust their bills accordingly.