Laraine E. Schwartz - West New York, NJ

Consider the following:

• Comfort Level – Are you comfortable telling the lawyer personal information? Does the lawyer seem interested in solving your problem?
• Credentials – How long has the lawyer been in practice? Has the lawyer worked on other cases similar to yours?
• Cost – How are the lawyer's fees structured — hourly or flat fee? Can the lawyer estimate the cost of your case?
• City – Is the lawyer's office conveniently located?

Here are a few to get you started:

• How long have you been in practice?
• How many cases like mine have you handled?
• How often do you settle cases out of court?
• What are your fees and costs?
• What are the next steps?

It is always a good idea to research your lawyer prior to hiring. Every state has a disciplinary organization that monitors attorneys, their licenses, and consumer complaints. By researching lawyer discipline you can:

• Ensure the attorney is currently licensed to practice in your state
• Gain an understanding of his or her historical disciplinary record, if any.
• Determine the seriousness of complaints/issues which could range from late bar fees to more serious issues requiring disciplinary action.