How many of you have been swamped by TV ads about lawyers?  If you've had an auto accident or a slip and fall, you can probably find a personal injury lawyer within 5 minutes of turning on the TV.   But if you need something else, it may be a little more difficult.  So what do you do?  You go through the phone book and OH MY GOODNESS, your head is probably spinning because of all of the pictures, listing and ads for attorneys. So when you are looking for an attorney or a law firm, what should you do in order to help you with your search? 1) BIG FIRM v. SMALL FIRM! Firm size as it relates to your case is really a matter of preference and the case you have.  Don't get me wrong.  A large firm typically has alot of resources available to it.  However, don't get the idea that bigger is necessarily better.  I've known attorneys who are solo practitioners who have settled multi-million dollar cases as well as attorneys in big firms.  Interestingly, it really boils to what you feel comfortable. 2) PERCENTAGE OF WINS DOESN'T GUARANTEE RESULTS! I can't tell you how many times I've had people ask me "What is your win percentage?".  The simple fact is that people feel comfortable knowing the likelihood of success as it relates to their case.  There is nothing wrong with that thought process.  However, what most people don't realize is that some law firms screen cases in order to accept cases they feel they have a greater propensity to prevail.   So if a law firm is willing accept your case, they have pretty decent expectation that they may be successful.    However, it is possible that your case may not have the ultimate outcome you are looking (depending on your facts and circumstances).  Just remember that percentages are great but don't penalize a firm for not having the results you are looking for because every case is a little different. 3) YELLOW PAGES! OOOOOOOOOO, I know this must be a NIGHTMARE for you.  You see HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of attorneys but which one do you call?  Don't freak out.  You probably won't have any problems with who you select out of the yellow pages so don't get upset because you have so many to choose. 4) WHAT DO YOU WANT - INTERACTIONS!! Ok, this part may the most important to you.  All attorneys have an ethical obligation to keep their clients informed.  The important question is HOW MUCH interaction do you really want or HOW MUCH interaction is important to you?  Some people want an attorney that they can talk to weekly.  Some people is ok with just monthly contact or quarterly contact.   Some people can talk to their attorney through the internet and some call the attorneys cell.   You have to ask yourself HOW MUCH interaction do you require. 5) REFERRALS ARE GREAT! One of the best places to FIND an attorney is to ask someone you know who has USED an attorney before or who KNOWS an attorney.   If you talk to someone who has used an attorney that you need, you can get in-depth knowledge about the person's experiences.  THis part gets tricky because everyone's experience is difference so you may find yourself missing an opportunity to get a good lawyer.  However, you can still get some good insight into what to look for when you are doing your search.  If you know an attorney, attorneys typically can refer you to someone who actually does the type of law you are looking. 6) LAWYERS ARE NOT JESUS! Ok, before you start cursing me for being a HEATHEN for using JESUS's name in vain, let's get one thing straight.  I am religious and this statement is in NO WAY meant to disrespect any religious faith.  Now, that THAT's out of the way, get one thing straight.  Lawyers can't WALK on water so please get this thought out of your mind that your mind that your attorney needs to be a miracle worker.   Alot of time, people have a really high expectation of what attorneys do and if they can't make it "Shake, rattle and roll", there may be HELL to pay!  Remember, your attorneys can only work with the law that are presented to them and your fact that constrains them. 7) NINJA v. SAMURAI! For those of you who don't have any martial arts experience, a NINJA is an assassin who practices the art of stealth and covert operations.  A SAMURAI is a warrior skilled in the art of open combat and warfare.  Ultimately, both fighters serve the same purpose:  To destroy their enemy.   Depending on your case, you have to ask yourself the question:  What type of lawyer do I want?   Do you want the lawyer who is quiet, unassuming but gets results OR do you want the lawyer that raises hell and kicks down doors but gets results?  Ultimately, they both get results.  So which one do you want? 8) 2ND OPINION IS FINE BUT DON'T COMPARE! I can't begin to tell you the number of times I've said this people.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting a second opinion.  You are more than within your rights to investigate multiple law firms.  However, searching for a firm is not going to a car dealership.  Telling one law firm that another law firm can do something that they don't may get you a "STANK" response.  If you don't know what I mean, try telling one firm about something another firm says they can do and you will quickly see what I mean. 9) THEY CAN'T READ YOUR MIND! When you are in the process of hiring an attorney, as silly as this may seem, ASK QUESTIONS!!   If there is something on your mind that you want to address, don't keep it to yourself and expect the attorney to figure out what it is you want to know.  Hiring an attorney is a big decision so if you have questions, ASK! 10) GET PRELIMS ON THE PHONE! Listen, when you are searching for an attorney, get some basic information out of the way in order to narrow your search.  Ask if they have free consultations (or how much they cost).  Ask for a website.  Ask for what areas they cover.  Get all of that out of the way so you can figure if you need to come in for a more thorough discussion. 11) BACKGROUNDS ARE HELPFUL! Attorneys understand that their expertise can only add to their ability to help you.  So when you see attorneys highlting their certifications, the courts they are admitted, their past work experiences, and their background, it's because they want you to have a greater appreciation of what additional skills they bring to to the table. 12) TRUST YOUR GUT! At the end of the day, all of these bells and whistles that I am sharing really boils down to hiring someone that just feels right for you.  You can see a million commercials, talk to a bunch of people, or ask a million questions but ultimately, you have to feel good about the attorney or the firm you are hiring. Hiring an attorney is an important decision.  Whenever you are taking the steps to find someone to help you with your case, it is important that you find someone that is right for you.  Not every attorney or law firm is perfect  so all you can do is find someone or some firm that is perfect for you.