Education

• Depending on the nature of your case, you should consider whether the attorney's education and achievements relate well with your case.
  
  

Experience & Representative Clients

• Check out the law firm's description of the attorney's background and experience as well as investigating whether the attorney has any "representative clients" who can attest to the lawyer's competence and client satisfaction level.
  
  

Specialization

• State bar associations in your state may certify attorneys as specialists in a particular area of law. Certification status can be helpful in choosing a lawyer.
  
  

Fees & Cost Estimates

• Attorneys charge different hourly or flat fees, and fee and expense estimates can vary greatly. The amount of travel time can also affect fee quotes.
  
  

Ratings

• The leading rating service is rendered by the Martindale-Hubbell Company. There are two ratings that you should consider. Peer reviews rate other lawyers' competence. Client review ratings are made by past and present clients.
  
  

Discipline Record & Client Complaints

• You should always check with the state bar association, which licenses lawyers in your state, to see if there are any complaints against the attorney's competence and ethics.