Screening Lawyers Online

Research by FindLaw has shown that people increasingly turn to the Internet as opposed to other sources of information when in need of an attorney, and that people tend to make their pick within days. To take maximum advantage of this potential, law firms hire consultants to design an attractive website, then help turn as many prospects as possible into paying clients. Once you do contact one or more law firms, chances are that you’ll wind up becoming their client.

Fortunately, you do not have to contact anybody until you are ready, and some valuable resources are available to those inclined to be cautious and thorough. 

Bar Associations represent all licensed attorneys within a given jurisdiction. They are generally trustworthy and helpful within certain limits. They will probably provide a list of member firms matching your type of case, but do not expect them to endorse anybody in particular - their other members wouldn't like it. Your local bar association should be able to tell you about any disciplinary actions taken or pending against any specific attorney or law firm. 

Commercial pre-screening services will investigate any law firm worldwide by drawing upon various resources such as bar associations and the internet. Such service providers will help their clients decide whether a given law firm is suitable for the task at hand, suggest possible alternatives as needed, and finally assist with the introduction. Upon the client's behalf, they can ask a law firm to provide certain information such as:

- Who will be handling the case? It cannot be taken for granted that a case will be handled by an experienced attorney, since many cases are transferred to legal associates, paralegals, law students, and legal secretaries;

- Who is responsible? A named proprietor or partner should be responsible for cases that are assigned to somebody else, and should be available for the client to contact;

- The lawyer’s background: References should be available upon request, such as a client list, how many years of experience, accomplishments, and published articles. References should be carefully evaluated with special emphasis on whether they are relevant to this particular case;

- Terms and conditions: A written contract or letter of agreement should be provided which spells out all relevant terms. This will typically include any costs such as fees and retainers, whether the firm promises to keep the client informed about all case developments, whether the firm promises to respond promptly to inquiries, whether the firm promises to process the case with reasonable speed, as well as the firm’s liability and insurance policies.

Commercial pre-screening services must prove that they are truly independent, or they cannot serve their clients with integrity.