Finding and hiring a lawyer

How to find the right lawyer for your legal problem

A step-by-step way to go from "I think I need a lawyer" to a short list of licensed attorneys who handle your kind of problem. 7 min read

Most people look for a lawyer only a few times in their life, usually under stress. The process is easier if you take it in order: name the problem, find attorneys licensed where the problem is, check each one, and compare two or three before you decide.

1. Name the problem

Lawyers concentrate on practice areas. A lawyer who handles divorces every day is usually a better choice for a custody dispute than a general business lawyer, even a very good one. Before you search, write two or three sentences about what happened, what you want to happen, and any deadline you know about (a court date, a letter that says "respond within 30 days", the date of an accident). That summary tells you which practice area to search for and helps the lawyer judge quickly whether they can help.

If you are not sure what the area is called, start broad. "Family law" covers divorce, custody, support and adoption. "Personal injury" covers car accidents, falls and most injury claims. "Estate planning" covers wills and trusts, while "probate" covers handling an estate after someone dies. "Employment law" covers problems with an employer, and "landlord and tenant" covers leases and evictions.

2. Look in the right state

Lawyers are licensed state by state. For a problem that will be handled in a state court, such as a divorce, an eviction, a will or most injury cases, you generally need a lawyer licensed in that state. Some matters are federal, like immigration or bankruptcy, and the rules are different; our guide on hiring a lawyer licensed in another state explains when that works.

On LawyersIndex you can search by city or ZIP code and filter by practice area and by the states an attorney is licensed in. Every profile comes from an official state attorney record.

3. Build a short list

Aim for three to five names. Good sources include:

Recommendations from people who had a similar problem, or from a lawyer you already know (lawyers often refer cases outside their own area to colleagues they trust).
Lawyer referral services run by state and local bar associations. Many screen the lawyers on their panels and offer a first consultation for a low set fee.
Directories such as LawyersIndex, where you can see who is licensed and where their office is.
Legal aid organizations if money is tight; see finding free or low-cost legal help.

4. Check every name

Before you share details or pay anything, confirm that each lawyer is licensed and in good standing with the state's official attorney lookup, and check whether they have a public discipline history. It takes a few minutes per name. Our guide on how to check a lawyer's license walks through it.

5. Talk to two or three

Many lawyers offer a short first consultation, sometimes free and sometimes for a fee. Use it to see whether the lawyer understands your problem, explains things clearly and answers your questions directly. Bring your summary and the key documents. Our list of questions to ask at a first consultation can help you compare answers.

6. Compare how they charge

Ask each lawyer how they would charge for your matter and what the total might look like. Hourly, flat-fee and contingency arrangements each have trade-offs; see how lawyers charge. Whatever you choose, get the fee arrangement in writing before work starts.

7. Decide, and don't wait too long

Legal problems often have deadlines that are not obvious, such as the time limit to file a lawsuit or to answer one. If you know a deadline is close, say so in your first call. A lawyer who cannot take your case can often tell you who might.

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This guide is general information, not legal advice, and laws differ from state to state. For advice about your situation, talk to a lawyer licensed in your state. Last reviewed November 4, 2026.