what's the best way to find the most competent attorney?

[edprush]

I'm helping someone try to find an attorney regarding a divorce.

Besides word of mouth, is there a way to find a good attorney? Most of the websites I have come across are just paid referral services--the attorney pays a fee to be listed on a website.

Are there any websites that have client 'reviews' of attorneys?

 

[acemcmac]

<instert comment advocating deadly force against said spouse as cheaper than fighting him/her in court>

 

[aphex]

Well, other than http://www.martindale.com (which is a listing, info site, not really reviews), you could always call the local bar association and ask for a list of board certified attorneys in the area of law your looking for.

I don't really see any attorney review sites per say.

 

[kingtas]

Damn. You either pay or pay her. It's a lose lose situation.

 

[MisterJackson]

Divorces are expensive because they're worth it.

I got a crappy divorce attorney, but got a hell of an attorney for winning custody of my son.

It's hard to tell who's good without word of mouth.

you could try calling the bar to investigate complaints against one you're considering.

As a rule of thumb, the rule "You get what you pay for" REALLY applies here.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: edprush
I'm helping someone try to find an attorney regarding a divorce.

Besides word of mouth, is there a way to find a good attorney? Most of the websites I have come across are just paid referral services--the attorney pays a fee to be listed on a website.

Are there any websites that have client 'reviews' of attorneys?

Martindale-Hubbell allows you to search for a lawyer by subject matter (in this case, you want the euphemistically-named "family law"), then by locality. When you get down to the individual lawyers, they have M-H peer ratings that should be illuminating - IMO it's a good idea to look for firms where at least the partners are AV-rated.

 

[Codewiz]

Find the lawyer that happens to play golf with the judge.......

 

[nigerianbusinessman]

I can't really tell you. I can, however, tell you to avoid Al Williams from Dixon, IL like a plague infested leper. He's as crooked as a bucket of fishhooks.

 

[CptObvious]

I agree with the suggestion to search Martindale-Hubbell and look for an AV-rated attorney or firm. However, you will probably have to pay a premium to hire one. There are competent solo practitioners and small firms around who are not rated or even on MH, but unfortunately there's no reliable way to find them easily. You just have to compare qualifications and experience yourself.

 

[j00fek]

dont do anything that gets you caught so you wont need a lawer

 

[gotsmack]

go talk to them in their offices for a free consultation, hire the one that makes you want to vomit the most.

 

[lokiju]

I've just used word of mouth in the past for my legal needs.

 

[compnovice]

Originally posted by: nigerianbusinessman
I can't really tell you. I can, however, tell you to avoid Al Williams from Dixon, IL like a plague infested leper. He's as crooked as a bucket of fishhooks.

Nigerian businessman without a black man avatar :Q

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Ask around your friends and coworkers and find the person who got the most screwed during their divorce. Hire whoever it was that opposed them.

 

[compnovice]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
Ask around your friends and coworkers and find the person who got the most screwed during their divorce. Hire whoever it was that opposed them.

:thumbsup:

 

[Gravity]

Originally posted by: compnovice

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
Ask around your friends and coworkers and find the person who got the most screwed during their divorce. Hire whoever it was that opposed them.

:thumbsup:

yes, I watched my friend get totally taken down by this female atty. I'm gonna meet with her this week to see if she can take my case.

+1

 

[d3n]

Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
Ask around your friends and coworkers and find the person who got the most screwed during their divorce. Hire whoever it was that opposed them.

Words of wisdom