What to Ask an Attorney Before Hiring

You need an attorney and you have scheduled initial consultations with multiple attorneys. What questions should you ask him/her to find out which attorney to choose?  I recommend the following:

• What do your clients like most about you?
• This question allows the attorney to highlight his strengths. By asking what his clients think of him rather than what he thinks of himself, he is more likely to answer candidly.

• Do you prefer email or phone calls?
• Often this is a generational matter. But, too many clients who won't do email are frustrated when their attorney won't quickly return calls, and vice a versa. It is important to know how you like to communicate, and make sure your attorney is a match.

• How fast should I expect responses from you?
• The number one bar complaint for attorneys is the failure to respond to clients' requests for information. Sometimes the complaints are valid, and sometimes the clients have unreasonable expectations. Find out before hiring an attorney what you can expect in terms of communication, and whether you are okay with his/her approach.   

• Will I be able to find someone else who can do it cheaper?
• I like this question because it can elicit a number of different responses.  Some attorneys will bristle, and I think that is a telling response.  Other attorneys will say "you get what you pay for," which is kind of a cop-out.  Look for honest answers since you want an attorney who will be honest with you and tell it like it is.  And if the honest answer is that the attorney firmly believes you can't find it cheaper anywhere else, then you probably found a cheap attorney in more sense than one. 

Adam Brown is a bankruptcy attorney for Dexter & Dexter, a debt relief agency helping people file for bankruptcy.