How Do I Find an Attorney? Where is the Phone Book?
So you need an attorney, where do you look?
Did you know, more than 20 years ago, attorneys could NOT advertise their profession. This was based on the notion that a good attorney with a good reputation didn’t need to advertise. Probably true in a very small rural community where everyone knows everyone. Not so true today. RPC 7.1, 7.3
1. The Phone Book? – Does it still exist?
Over 20 years ago, when I first started practicing law, the average person would look in the phone book, in the “yellow pages” to find an attorney. Many years ago, before there were cell phones and the internet, there was only one phone book and only one telephone company. Every attorney was listed in the yellow pages under their area of practice. The BIG law firms bought expensive full-page ads and advertised on the back of the phone book. The smaller law firms had smaller ads or none at all. Bigger advertisements didn’t necessarily mean the law firm was better, but rather they had the ability to handle more cases.
Some large law firms have 50 attorneys or more. Some large law firms have 2 or 3 attorneys, but 40 legal assistants or paralegals who “help” the attorneys. A small law firm or a solo practice attorney usually has a paralegal or legal assistant but may also work completely alone. With the aide of current technology, most attorney do all of their own typing, filing, and most of their drafting. Over 30 years ago, many attorneys couldn’t type, and didn’t own a computer. Most had typewriters and secretaries. In fact, the first attorney I worked for, prior to going to law school in 1993, didn’t know how to use a computer. I did all his typing (transcribing) listening to an audio recording.
Personally, when I am looking for legal representation, I want to speak directly to the attorney who will be handling my case before deciding to hire the law firm. Most people don’t have a phone book anymore. In fact, I don’t think one has been delivered to my home in years.
2. A Personal Referral from a Friend.
Personal Experience in the same area of law: If you come from a family of attorneys or your family has used an attorney in the past, you can ask your friends or family members who they’ve used and if they had a positive experience. A personal referral can be the best source. If you are lucky, you and your family haven’t needed an attorney. If you don’t know an attorney, how do you find one? People hire an attorney because there is a problem that needs to be fixed. The majority of people haven’t needed an attorney, so they don’t know of any. Those that have used an attorney are sometimes private about the fact they’ve needed one.
I am a personal injury attorney. I know a lot of personal injury attorneys. If I can’t take your case, I know a number of attorneys who I respect who might be able to help you, if their schedule permits. However, since I don’t practice in any other area of law, I am less familiar with the actual work another attorney might do. For example, I know a number of attorneys who practice Family Law, but I am not familiar with their actual work. If I recommend them, I am recommending them based on my personal interaction with them, their general reputation in the community and/or the fact that they practice in the area you are looking for. However, I can not guarantee they can help you.
The phone book was helpful, as it listed all attorneys available in town and the types of cases they have experience handling. Most attorneys are no longer “general practice” attorneys. 50 years ago, many attorneys handled many different types of cases. Today, most focus their practice in one or two areas of the law.
In Washington, attorneys are required to have a 4 year college degree and a law degree from an accredited law school (we only have 3 in Washington). There are a few exceptions that allows a person to practice law without going to law school, such as the Rule 6 program. During the 3 years in law school, attorneys study over 23 different areas of the law. After graduating from law school they must pass a comprehensive 3 day test. Not everyone passes the bar.
When deciding to hire an attorney you should ask them about their experience. You could ask how long they have been practicing law. How many cases like yours have they personally handled. A paralegal or legal assistant who has 20 years of experience handling personal injury claims may know a lot about that particular area of the law but are not licensed to practice law.
3. The Bar and Legal Affiliations
All practicing attorneys in the State of Washington are licensed with the Washington State Bar Association. (WSBA). This is a mandatory requirement. If an attorney loses their license they can no longer practice law. Nearly every personal injury attorney who is competent in their profession are members of the Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ). This is a voluntary organization that help educate personal injury attorneys and helps create good laws in our state. Both organizations have a directory for the public. (See links below)
https://wsba.org/for-the-public/find-legal-help
https://www.washingtonjustice.org/?pg=FindAnAttorney
If you have doubts whether or not your attorney is licensed you can look them up on the WSBA website. I served as the WSAJ past president during COVID from September 2020 - September 2021. I currently serve on their board.
https://www.washingtonjustice.org/?pg=PastPresidents
4. The Internet, Google, Facebook and TikTok
When all else fails, people use Google to find an attorney. Unfortunately, this is a mixed bag. The internet and social media is a very powerful advertising tool that is dramatically less expensive than advertising in the yellow pages used to be. However, the search engines and technology that we are just now beginning to understand manipulates who you see first. Who you see first might be someone who has paid a lot of money to drive their name to the top of the list. Being at the top of the list doesn’t mean that person is the most competent or experienced attorney available. Again, remember those that have the most experience, often don’t need to advertise to get clients. They have built a solid reputation from the hundreds of people they have represented over the course of their long career. Unfortunately, some of the best are retiring, making way for the younger attorneys who are eager to master their profession.
Small law firms often don’t have the time or resources to market themselves on the internet. Many of the more experienced and seasoned attorneys are struggling to understand how to advertise on the internet. Finding a competent person who knows how to do social media marketing is also difficult to find as technology is changing so rapidly. There are many people and companies advertising themselves as social media “experts”, but the reality is, many of them are not experienced or competent at all.
Advertising on social media is yet another tool. First there as Facebook, now there are several others, Instagram, TikTok, and others. Most attorneys are not comfortable creating a TikTok video of themselves. Blogging and Vlogging ….most of these take time and yet another skillset. Before Facebook, you were on trend if you had a website. Now, most people prefer to search Facebook or TikTok rather than read a newspaper or watch the news. Unfortunately, attorneys who are busy doing the actual case work, don’t have the extra time to write a blog, or record a TikTok video. Often, the most experienced attorneys are the busiest attorney and have been practicing long enough and have built a solid reputation, they don’t need to advertise.
5. The NEW attorney.
Don’t discount the newer and/or younger attorney. While they may not have the experience a more seasoned attorney has, they have energy. They are hungry to earn money and eager to show off their skills. Most newly licensed attorneys will work with or associate with a more experienced attorney. So, don’t shy away from talking with the newer attorney as long as they have good mentorship, they are often your best advocates especially for those “smaller” cases.
I have been practicing since 2000, nearly 25 years. I have a solid referral source. I am in the process of balancing and scaling my workload with having a social life. I am financially comfortable. I continue to practice law, because I love what I do, and I love helping people. I was the small law firm who didn’t take the time to write Blogs or record TikTok videos. After one unfortunate interaction with a frustrated potential client looking for an attorney, I realized that I could help more people if I did take the time to write a blog. The purpose of these blogs are not to self-promote or advertise my firm, but rather, help other people on a larger scale by providing free information.
I can’t help everyone personally, but I can share my knowledge.
** This article is not a substitution for legal advice, but rather a tool to help my community find a good attorney.