How To Choose A Good Lawyer
Locating a competent attorney to handle your particular case is about as crucial as finding the right doctor for yourself or a family member. An unacceptable doctor can be deadly; so too an incompetent or inexperienced attorney can kill your chances for success in Court. Investing some time to determine the attorney’s qualifications may very well save you unnecessary disappointment.
Therefore, deciding who would be the best lawyer to represent you in your case is particularly important, as it could make a difference between whether you will win or lose your case. Self-serving newspaper advertising by lawyers will not necessarily lead you to the best attorney. When selecting your attorney you should set aside all of the popular advertising and promotions, and consider the lawyer’s background, knowledge, and experience. You should check whether your lawyer has any experience in litigation before the courts. Likewise, since you may need to appeal your case, your attorney should be familiar with appeal procedure.
Aside from just looking into knowledge and experience, you should also be aware if your attorney appears to be a hard-working practitioner, attentive to your needs and offering personal attention to his other individual clients. The bottom line question you should ask yourself: DOES MY LAWYER TREAT ME LIKE I THINK I DESERVE TO BE TREATED? If he doesn’t, then he may not care enough about your case.
Factors to Consider
There are several crucial factors to consider before determining whether an attorney has the requisite experience at different levels and phases of the process. The attorney must demonstrate that he has prepared, reviewed, filed, and represented clients in a wide range of proceedings. In addition, the attorney must continue to raise his own level of legal education by taking ongoing educational courses and keeping up to date of the latest developments and changes in law. Granted, all of this knowledge and experience may not always be necessary. Nevertheless, when your case is prepared properly from the beginning and presented appropriately you have given yourself the best chance to win.
Before you spend your hard-earned money with an attorney who claims to be a magician or miracle worker, sit down and discuss your matter with our firm, and then obtain a second opinion if you feel it to be necessary. As honest and competent attorneys we understand that a second opinion is important to you. We look forward to meeting with you and offering you the professional guidance, counsel and direction that we have been offering to our other satisfied clients over the past decade.
Statement of Client's Rights
You are entitled to be treated with courtesy and consideration at all times by your lawyer and the other lawyers and personnel in your lawyer's office.
You are entitled to an attorney capable of handling your legal matter
competently and diligently, in accordance with the highest standards of the profession. If you are not satisfied with how your matter is being handled, you have the right to withdraw from the attorney-client relationship at any time (court approval may be required in some matters and your attorney may have a claim against you for the value of services rendered to you up to the point of discharge).
You are entitled to your lawyer's independent professional judgment and undivided loyalty uncompromised by conflicts of interest.
You are entitled to be charged a reasonable fee and to have your lawyer explain at the outset how the fee will be computed and the manner and frequency of billing. You are entitled to request and receive a written itemized bill from your attorney at reasonable intervals. You may refuse to enter into any fee arrangement that you find unsatisfactory. In the event of a fee dispute, you may have the right to seek arbitration; your attorney will provide you with the necessary information regarding arbitration in the event of a fee dispute, or upon your request. 
You are entitled to be kept informed as to the status of your matter and to request and receive copies of papers. You are entitled to sufficient information to allow you to participate meaningfully in the development of your matter.
You are entitled to have your legitimate objectives respected by your attorney, including whether or not to settle your matter (court approval of a settlement is required in some matters).
You have the right to privacy in your dealings with your lawyer and to have your secrets and confidences preserved to the extent permitted by law.
You are entitled to have your attorney conduct himself or herself ethically in accordance with the Code of Professional Responsibility.
You may not be refused representation on the basis of race, creed, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or disability.