How to find attorneys

The most reliable way to find an attorney is to start with your state bar association's lawyer directory or referral service. Compare two or three lawyers who regularly handle your type of legal matter. Before discussing fees or signing a representation agreement, verify each attorney's license and disciplinary history.

The American Bar Association maintains a directory of state and local lawyer referral services. State bar directories can also help you confirm whether an attorney is authorized to practice in your state.

At a Glance: The Best Ways to Find an Attorney

Method	Best for	What to check
State bar directory	Finding licensed attorneys in your area	Practice area, location, license status and discipline history
Bar association referral service	Getting a targeted referral	Whether the service screens attorneys and whether a consultation fee applies
Personal referral	Finding someone trusted by a friend or professional	Whether the lawyer handles your specific legal issue
Legal aid organization	Free or low-cost help	Income eligibility, case type and geographic coverage
Online search	Building an initial list	Independent verification through the state bar
Legal plan or employer benefit	Routine legal services	Covered services, participating attorneys and limits

1. Identify What Kind of Attorney You Need

Start by describing the legal problem in plain language. The right attorney depends more on the area of law than on the general title "lawyer."

Common examples include:

• Personal injury attorney: Car accidents, slip-and-fall injuries and medical negligence
• Family law attorney: Divorce, custody, child support and adoption
• Criminal defense attorney: Misdemeanors, felonies, DUI charges and federal crimes
• Employment attorney: Wrongful termination, discrimination, wage disputes and workplace retaliation
• Immigration attorney: Visas, green cards, citizenship and removal proceedings
• Estate planning attorney: Wills, trusts, powers of attorney and probate
• Real estate attorney: Property purchases, boundary disputes, leases and foreclosure
• Bankruptcy attorney: Chapter 7, Chapter 13 and related debt issues
• Business attorney: Business formation, contracts, partnerships and commercial disputes
• Landlord-tenant attorney: Evictions, security deposits, habitability and lease disputes

Use a search phrase that describes both the legal issue and your location, such as:

• personal injury attorney in [city]
• immigration lawyer for green card in [state]
• employment attorney wrongful termination [city]
• criminal defense attorney DUI [county]

Your location matters because attorneys are generally licensed by state. Some cases also require knowledge of local court rules or county procedures. The American Bar Association states that there is no single national license to practice law in the United States.

2. Use Official Lawyer Directories First

An official directory operated by a state bar association or public-service lawyer referral program is usually a good place to begin.

These directories may help you search by:

• Practice area
• City or county
• Language
• License status
• Referral program participation
• Special client needs

The ABA's lawyer referral directory lets consumers search for state and local referral services. The ABA also provides a state-by-state list of bar-sponsored lawyer finders and directories.

A lawyer referral service may provide the name of an attorney who handles your type of case. It may also offer an initial consultation for a reduced or fixed fee. Some referral services focus on particular groups, including older adults, immigrants, people with disabilities and domestic violence survivors.

3. Ask People You Trust for Referrals

A personal referral can help when the person making the recommendation had a legal issue similar to yours.

Possible sources include:

• Friends or relatives who hired an attorney
• A business accountant
• Another attorney
• A professional association
• A union or employee assistance program
• A community organization
• A financial adviser, where appropriate

Treat the referral as a starting point. A lawyer who handled a friend's divorce may not have the background to handle your business litigation, immigration matter or criminal defense case.

4. Look for Free or Low-Cost Legal Help

If you cannot afford a private attorney, check legal aid and other reduced-cost options before deciding to handle the matter alone.

Potential resources include:

• Legal aid organizations: Often serve people who meet income or case-type requirements
• Law school legal clinics: May provide supervised assistance for qualifying matters
• State and local bar programs: May offer reduced-fee referrals
• Pro bono programs: May connect eligible clients with volunteer attorneys
• Public defenders: May represent eligible people charged with crimes
• Legal insurance plans: May cover certain routine legal services

The Legal Services Corporation provides a search tool for finding LSC-funded civil legal aid organizations by address or city. LawHelp.org can also provide legal information, forms and referrals to free or low-cost assistance.

Free legal help often has eligibility rules. Contact an organization as soon as possible because some programs have limited capacity, and legal deadlines continue to run.

5. Verify the Attorney Before Hiring Them

Before paying a retainer, check the attorney through the licensing authority in the state where the attorney will handle your case.

Confirm that:

1. The attorney is licensed to practice in the relevant state.
2. The license is active.
3. The attorney is not suspended or disbarred.
4. The attorney handles your type of legal matter.
5. The attorney's disciplinary history does not raise concerns.

The Federal Trade Commission recommends checking the state bar to determine whether a lawyer is active, inactive, disciplined or disbarred. The FTC also warns consumers not to rely solely on website badges, awards or online reviews.

You can review the attorney's website and publicly available court records for relevant experience. Experience with your legal issue is usually more useful than a general claim that the attorney is "highly rated."

6. Compare Two or Three Attorneys

When time allows, speak with at least two attorneys before hiring one. If you have an urgent deadline, tell each attorney about it during the first contact.

Ask each attorney:

• Have you handled cases like mine?
• Who will personally work on my case?
• What outcome is realistically possible?
• What are the main risks or weaknesses?
• What deadlines apply?
• How long could the matter take?
• Will the case likely settle, require a hearing or go to trial?
• What fee arrangement do you recommend?
• What expenses are separate from attorney fees?
• How often will you provide updates?
• Who should I contact when I have questions?

The FTC recommends asking about the attorney's experience, expected approach, staff involvement, timing, billing and communication practices.

A good attorney should explain the situation clearly without promising a particular result. Be cautious if a lawyer guarantees that you will win, pressures you to sign immediately or avoids basic questions about fees.

7. Understand How Attorneys Charge

Common fee arrangements include:

Fee type	How it works	Common examples
Hourly fee	You pay for time spent on the matter	Litigation, business disputes and complex family matters
Flat fee	You pay a set amount for defined services	Simple wills, uncontested divorces or basic business filings
Contingency fee	The attorney receives an agreed percentage if money is recovered	Many personal injury and some employment cases
Retainer	An advance payment held and applied to legal work	Ongoing representation and litigation
Reduced or sliding-scale fee	The fee is adjusted based on eligibility or circumstances	Some nonprofit and bar referral programs

Ask whether the fee includes filing fees, expert witnesses, investigators, service of process, travel, copying, postage and other expenses.

The FTC recommends getting the fee agreement in writing. For a contingency case, confirm the percentage, whether it changes if the case goes to trial and which expenses you must pay if the case is unsuccessful.

8. Review the Written Representation Agreement

Do not rely on a verbal understanding. The engagement letter or representation agreement should state:

• The legal matter the attorney will handle
• The services included
• The services excluded
• The fee structure
• The retainer amount, if applicable
• Responsibility for case expenses
• Billing intervals
• Communication expectations
• How either party can end the relationship

Read the agreement before paying. Ask the attorney to explain any provision you do not understand, especially terms concerning additional fees, settlement authority and withdrawal from the case.

Red Flags When Choosing an Attorney

Consider choosing another attorney if the lawyer:

• Guarantees a specific result
• Will not confirm a license or office address
• Demands immediate payment without explaining the work
• Refuses to provide a written fee agreement
• Gives unclear answers about who will handle the case
• Has little experience with your type of legal issue
• Uses pressure, fear or misleading claims to obtain your signature
• Has serious disciplinary findings that you cannot reconcile
• Is difficult to reach before you hire them

Online reviews can be incomplete or misleading. Compare them with licensing records, professional experience and your own consultation.

What to Bring to the First Consultation

Prepare a short timeline and organize relevant documents, such as:

• Contracts
• Court papers
• Police reports
• Medical records
• Emails and text messages
• Pay records
• Insurance correspondence
• Photos or videos
• Names and contact information for witnesses

Bring copies rather than irreplaceable originals. Explain the facts honestly, including information that may hurt your position. An attorney needs accurate information to assess the risks and give useful advice.

The Best Next Step

Start with your state bar's official attorney directory or referral service. Search for attorneys who handle your legal issue in the relevant county or state. Then verify each attorney's license and disciplinary record, interview two or three candidates and compare written fee agreements.

Choose the lawyer who offers the strongest combination of relevant experience, clear communication, realistic advice and transparent pricing.

If you share your state and the type of legal problem, you can narrow the search to the appropriate referral service, legal aid organization or licensing directory.