When searching for a lawyer, it is vitally important to select one who specializes in the type of law applicable to your situation. This may prove challenging when faced with complex legal matters that need legal attention.
One of the easiest and best ways to find a quality attorney is through referrals from friends and family members, or reviewing online reviews.
Referrals
Lawyer referral services connect clients with experienced attorneys in their legal need area, or assist in identifying whether a matter can be resolved without legal aid, such as through landlord-tenant disputes or community mediation programs. While initial consultation fees will apply, any additional charges will be determined with each client in consultation before proceeding further.
Referring clients between attorneys may be necessary, for a variety of reasons, including when a case falls outside their area of expertise or they have too many cases on their plate. When doing this, it is essential that attorneys be selective as to who they refer clients to – referring them to someone without the appropriate skills could violate ABA rules and lead them into trouble with regulatory bodies such as the Bar.
Calling a referral service means speaking to a staff person about your legal problem before being connected with an attorney who specializes in that particular field. All lawyers on their panel have been carefully selected, meeting certain requirements such as malpractice insurance.
Online attorney databases
Online attorney databases offer lawyers a wealth of legal information. Such databases typically feature case law, statutes and administrative rulings; articles from legal newspapers and journals as well as free internet content which has been reviewed and edited before becoming part of an attorney database.
Legal databases provide an efficient way of quickly gathering legal information quickly on any topic and developing your research plan. Many include citation services that identify relevant cases and aid interpretation; others, like Avvo’s Q&A board, allow users to submit questions quickly and receive answers within hours – although be wary of anyone dispensing legal advice without an attorney-client relationship in place; this constitutes unlicensed practice of law.
Online reviews
Gaining 5-star reviews for your firm is an effective way to attract new business. While referrals remain the cornerstone of new client acquisition, reviews online have become an integral component of law firm marketing; 83% of consumers rely on reviews when making purchasing decisions! A recent study confirms this trend.
For optimal online reviews, select niche platforms that serve your target audience specifically. Avvo, for instance, is the leading US attorney review site and allows users to create profiles highlighting experience, fees and specialization. Furthermore, managing client reviews becomes much simpler via one interface.
Notable legal review websites include Google, Fac eboo k, and Martindale-Hubbell’s peer reviews platform. All three offer great credibility as an ideal venue for attorney and law firm marketing; some even provide backlinks directly back to your website!
LinkedIn is one of the world’s most-used social media platforms, boasting 800 million monthly active users worldwide. Many lawyers neglect their LinkedIn profiles, yet optimizing them could increase a firm’s visibility and help attract clients – for instance by including keywords potential clients search to boost its rank on Google searches.
Sharing articles about high-profile or newsworthy cases is another effective way to establish yourself as an authority on legal matters. Be mindful to adhere to your state’s regulations for billing yourself as an expert or specialist; some bar associations impose stringent restrictions on who can use such terms when marketing themselves as legal specialists or experts.
Consistent branding across platforms helps reassure clients of your firm’s reliability and professionalism, and creating groups on LinkedIn dedicated to specific legal topics or industries can expand your network and boost visibility.