Happy 2009! Thanks so much for showing interest my blog. I’d like to start my first “official” post of the New Year by asking for continued feedback and suggestions – this blog is about YOU, so I need you to tell me how I can make it better! What would you like to see here? Feel free to leave your ideas and thoughts in the comments section, or to e-mail me at valerie@farrislawpllc.com.

On to today’s topic. In the last two blog posts, I shared some thoughts on how to know when, as an individual or small businessperson, you need a lawyer. The bottom line is this: get one when you don’t need one, so you have one you like when you do. The next logical question, then, is “How do I choose the right lawyer for me or my business?”

Well, in my last post I promised that I would give you some tools to help you choose a lawyer, so lean in as I tell a little secret…The key to finding the right lawyer is to use your common sense!

I am fond of saying that common sense isn’t, unfortunately, as common as we’d all like to think. But the truth is, you all have it in you to choose a lawyer with whom you can work amiably, and who you trust. Choosing a lawyer, in many ways, is just like choosing a babysitter or banker. You ask for a resume; you check references; perhaps you do a background check. Then, considering all the information you’ve gathered, you trust your gut.

I can hear some of you now, thinking, “Gut?!? I’m reading her blog for advice and she tells me to trust my gut?!?” Yep, that’s right. Now, don’t worry – I’m going to give you some practical resources to help you in the information gathering phase of this process. But in the end, the reality is that there are thousands of intelligent, competent attorneys in the Seattle area.

“But I am looking for a lawyer who practices small business law,” you might think. Even that doesn’t narrow the field as much as you think. Even if you were to limit your search to lawyers located in West Seattle who practice small business law, you’d be surprised at how many of us you might find. So once you’ve got your pool of a few lawyers to choose from, the decision will boil down to the answers to these questions:

1. Do I like this person enough to work closely with her?
2. Do I like how he or she does business?
3. Are there any “red flags” that make me hesitate to work with this lawyer?
4. Is this person familiar with my industry?
5. Do I trust him/her to represent me and look out for my best interests?

There are a whole host of other questions to ask earlier in the process. Many people feel that years of experience is an important qualifier for their lawyer. Be sure to ask those you interview how long they’ve been in practice. Perhaps even more pertinent, though, is how much directly applicable experience they have doing the type of work you need done. For instance, a newer lawyer who has filed 100 trademark applications might be far more experienced, as far as your needs are concerned, than a seasoned 20-year attorney who’s never dealt with trademark law.

Some practical resources as you investigate your potential picks:

• Be sure to check your prospect’s profile at the Washington State Bar Association website’s Lawyer Directory. If that lawyer has been the subject of any bar discipline, from a reprimand or suspension to being disbarred, you’ll find that information there.
• For client reviews, you might check out Avvo, a website that allows peers and clients to review lawyers who claim their profiles. You can also view client comments on my lawyers’ own websites.
• Many attorneys offer a free or reduced-fee consultation. Take advantage of that opportunity to meet with your prospects before you choose an attorney.

I can’t stress enough how important it is to work with someone you can get along with reasonably well. Once you’ve done all the information gathering you can about your attorney, his/her firm, their years of practice, focus areas, etc., the decision will come down to a choice between people. Choose the person with whom you can see yourself working for hours at a time, perhaps years into the future. Establishing a positive, productive relationship with a lawyer now will stand you in good stead for years to come.

Good luck! If you have specific questions about this topic, or stories to share, please leave a comment or contact me directly.