Image by Marion Doss via Flickr
Making an appearance in court is an intimidating prospect, whatever your role and the nature of the case. Unless you happen to have a law degree and/or some serious Abraham Lincoln-sized self-confidence, your primary concern should be your representation.
All the humor centered around lawyers may reveal a negative stereotype, but the truth is that there are many hard-working, honest lawyers who care about the law and the people appealing to it. Still, the fact remains that, as in any profession, some professionals are better and more trustworthy than others. How to find the best ones?
You’re likely to want to go local. For example, the sort of accident lawyer Michigan residents would be interested in is one practicing in Michigan, preferably down the street—you don’t go out of state unless your needs are serious indeed.
This can actually be an advantage. Michigan residents can consult each other. There are likely to be neighbors who have experience working with that lawyer—or perhaps know him or her from the gym or grocery store—and can provide a personal recommendation.
As with auto mechanics, a personal recommendation is key. You want to know that someone whose opinion you value places trust in the individual whose services you seek. That is to say, if your friend has a good opinion of a particular attorney, you can probably go to that attorney with confidence.
Many websites offer people a chance to leave reviews of their experiences with various professionals, such as doctors and lawyers. You can also evaluate potential candidates that way. Whatever your methodology, try to find someone—independent of the law firm—who can testify to the character of the attorney. That’s a great start.
