Word of mouth is a strong determinant in selecting a lawyer for some.  Like family physicians, a friend mentions the name of their much beloved doctor of 14 years and soon that doctor has a new set of patients.  In a sense, this applies to law, but more often than not, someone else’s attorney may not be the best representation for you.  Finding a suitable attorney is a process of understanding exactly what your legal needs are, seeking out an attorney who practices in these areas, and grilling them during a consultation to determine if they are your best choice.

            What do you need an attorney for anyway?  The law has many facets with different court systems set up to handle different types of cases.  A lawyer could plausibly have a footing in all forms of the law from contract to family, but it is highly doubtful that this sort of lawyer will have years of experience with each.  It is important before you go shopping for an attorney to isolate what kind of case you will be involved in.  Is this an effort to change the visitation arrangements with your children in Vancouver?  Vancouver Lawyers specializing in family law is best.  Do you need representation for a DUI charge in Toronto?  Toronto Lawyers specializing in criminal defense should handle this.  Once you have established your case type, it is time to go looking.

            There are many different ways to find lawyers.  Thanks to the Internet, you do not even have to leave your home.  Attorneys advertise their services on various websites like lawyerahead.ca and it has gotten to the point where it is a buyer’s market.  For any case type, there are quite a few qualified attorneys willing to handle it.  It boils down to a few resumes that stand out.  After you have a short list of lawyers worthy enough to represent you in court, set up consultations and see how they are in person.

            Consultations are two-way interviews.  The lawyer is determining whether they will take your case and you are deciding if they are good picks.  Solid experience is one thing, but nothing compares to sitting down face-to-face and seeing how a person handles themselves.  Are they congenial?  Do they seem preoccupied and disinterested in your case?  Having a list of thoughtful questions going in to a consultation will make the appointment more fruitful.  One should make a point to bring up the exciting topic of how much representation will cost, who exactly will be handling the case (will it be delegated), expected outcomes, and the timeframe from beginning to end.  If you are happy with their answers, you still have the choice to shop around.  Maybe the lawyer down the street will have similar experience expertise and mannerisms but charge $200 less.  Who knows?  Scheduling a handful of consultations ahead of time lets you flesh out your options a bit better and choose more wisely.

            After all that rigmarole, it is time to break out the checkbook and make a decision.  After all the vetting, the choice will sit well and the case will go smoothly.  The true test of course takes place in the courtroom and perhaps after favorable results, you might one day happily recommend your attorney to a friend.

Here are a list of recent cases on Lawyerahead.ca requiring legal representation from lawyers:

1. Writing a will
2. Speeding Ticket
3.  Work Place Accidents
4. Business Tax Arrears (business Income Tax)
5. Serious Motor Cycle Accident
6. Dog Bite
7. Possession of Marijuana
8. Spousal Support Review
9. Parternship Dissolves and Disputes
10. Impaired Driving / Drunk Driving
11. Common Law Separation
12. Sexual Harrassment
13. Common Law Prenuptual Agreements
14. Real Estate Litigations
15. Expired Reseller Agreements - Commercial Litigation
16. Adoptions
17. Private Adoption
18. Slip and Fall
19. Possession of a Controlled Substance
20. Search Warrants