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There are a number of factors to consider when hiring a personal injury attorney and with more than 10,000 such lawyers practicing in the United States, the process of selecting just the right one can be difficult. The following list of factors may prove helpful in making your decision. 1. Use of Technology – Technology has revolutionized the practice of personal injury law probably as much as any other area in the legal profession. Does your attorney use email? Does the attorney have the latest research and case management software? Does the attorney provide electronic newsletters and email alerts to inform clients of breaking news. Does the firm have an extranet that allows you to log in to a private and secure web site to see what is happening on your case? Does the firm file applications electronically? Lawyers who master technology deliver legal services with better quality and can often leverage technology to deliver legal services less expensively. 2. Communication – The number one complaint against lawyers in this country is not poor work quality. It is failing to communicate with their clients. You are paying a lot of money to hire a lawyer and it is your right to expect to be kept informed of developments and have your calls and emails returned in a timely manner. On the other hand, there is still such a thing as excess and calling your lawyer everyday to find out what is happening on your case is not necessarily fair either. 3. Board Certified – A few states certify personal injury attorneys in the practice of personal injury law. If your lawyer practices in a state that does, make sure he or she has this credential. It is no guarantee of quality, but it can certainly be an indicator. 4. Educational Background – While many fine personal injury attorneys have come out of mediocre law schools and lousy lawyers come out of the Ivy Leagues, where a lawyer went to school can still be an indicator of a person’s ability to achieve. 5. Publications – Lawyers who write frequently about their practice area tend to keep themselves better informed about their area of law. The ability to get published also may indicate that the lawyer’s expertise is respected. 6. Promotional Materials – Pay attention to a law firms marketing and promotional materials. Are they professional and polished or do they make the firm appear to be “fly-by-night.” How the firm presents itself to its clients and potential clients may be an indicator of how the firm will present itself – and, consequently, you – to the USCIS. 7. Engagement Letters – Read the fine print in your engagement letters. Some personal injury attorneys load agreements down with so much “legalese” and one-sided provisions that it should give you pause. Consider using a lawyer who provides an agreement that is written in plain English that appears to be even-handed. 8. Industry Focus – A number of lawyers focus on particular types of employers and have become particularly adept at handling visa matters in their industries. For example, a small number of lawyers in the US represent the bulk of physicians applying for visas because of the peculiar difficulties present in these types of cases. 9. Personality Compatibility – Your experience with your lawyer is more than just the result of the lawyer’s experience and competency. A lawyer’s “bedside manner” can mean a lot at the end of the day to how the overall experience goes. Find a lawyer who really seems to care about your case. 10. Promising Too Much – There are actually personal injury attorneys out there who swear they have never lost a case even after a lengthy career. Be nervous about lawyers who promise success. A lawyer who honestly presents the risks is worth a lot more. Likewise, be very weary of attorneys who claim to have special influence with the government. Also beware of lawyers who speak too negatively of the competition. If the lawyer is worthy, they can stand on their own record rather than tearing down the record of competitors.
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