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Posted By: Kenny Cole

In my view, the best way to find a good lawyer is to talk to someone, hopefully someone you trust, in the geographical area. Even if the person you talk to doesn't do that sort of work, chances are that they will know someone good who does. That's the way the legal community works. The referral network is generally such that you can be directed to a good lawyer who practices in the desired area.

Option no. 2 is to go to Martindale-Hubbell. I think that it is now on line. Some view it as kind of a political, profit-driven publication (I'm kind of there myself), but one thing that it does do very well is locate lawyers by geographical area, area of practice and rate them in legal competence and ethics. That rating is made by their peers. It can be fixed, but it generally isn't. The importance of the ratings is that they come from other lawyers who practice with them. When you get a rating slip, you leave it blank if you don't know them. Basically, you bump up your friends and the lawyers you know who are good. While it is not a foolproof system, most AV rated lawyers aren't dunces.

As far as the ratings go, you have probably figured oht that AV is the best. A means that the lawyers with whom you practice think that you are good at what you do. Most have a B, and I've seen a few with a C. I would think that was a problem. V means that you are viewed as ethical. Everyone has a V, so that doesn't mean much. There are many BV rated lawyers who are as good as or better than, the ones rated AV, but I would suggest that you start with AV rated ones if you don't have a better option. Just a suggestion.