How to Evaluate Your Lawyer

When you hire a lawyer, there isn’t always a way measure his or her efficacy. When you hire a plumber, you know whether he or she fixed your toilet. When you hire a maid, you know if your house was cleaned. When you hire a lawyer, how do you know if he or she is doing her job well? If you hired a lawyer to prepare a contract, file and prosecute a lawsuit, represent you in a domestic relations action, or for any other reason, you can use these guidelines to evaluate your lawyer’s capabilities.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Talk to your lawyer. Can you talk to your lawyer? Does your lawyer communicate with you regularly? Your lawyer works for you. You should feel like your lawyer is available to answer your questions or discuss your case. If your lawyer, or your lawyer’s staff, will not return your phone calls, your lawyer is not doing his job.
2. Your lawyer should be doing what you hired him or her to do. Are you actually getting what you wanted from your lawyer? Did your lawyer prepare the contract you wanted? Did your lawyer file the papers she said she would file? If not, has your lawyer explained why not? If the answers to these questions are not “yes”, your lawyer is not doing her job.
3. You should have copies of the documents prepared by your lawyer. Your lawyer should give (or at least offer) you copies of the documents he has prepared on your behalf. If your lawyer is not forthright with the documents he is preparing for you. You should have a copy of the Contract, the Complaint, the Answer, the Articles of Incorporation, letters sent, and all relevant documents to your issue.
4. Your lawyer should do what she says she is going to do. If she says she is going to speak to someone, draft a document, or send you something, follow up and make sure she does it. You should not have to prod your lawyer to do what she says she is going to do.
5. Your lawyer should tell you what is going to happen. If you have options, such as going to trial as opposed to settling a case, or including a specific clause in a contract, your lawyer should tell you what the likely ramifications will be of your decision.
6. Your lawyer should give you a rough timeline of events. He should tell you when things are going to happen, such as when documents will be drafted, filed, or such as when proceedings will occur. A rough timeline will also help you gauge your attorney’s competency. If things are not proceeding in accordance with the rough timeline, your attorney should be able to explain why.

Tips & Warnings

• You must be able to communicate with your lawyer. You should feel comfortable talking to your lawyer about the issues relating to the reasons why you hired him or her. Remember, your lawyer works for you and should address your concerns.