How to tell if a law firm is good?

Asked by: Alfonso Klocko Sr.  |  Last update: February 12, 2026
Score: 4.5/5 (5 votes)

To tell if a law firm is good, check their credentials and reputation (state bar license, reviews, referrals), evaluate their expertise in your specific legal area, assess their communication and client care ( responsiveness, transparency), and ensure clear fee structures and a good fit for your needs, looking for preparedness and a focus on your interests.

How to check the legitimacy of a law firm?

To check if a law firm is legit, verify the attorneys with your state's Bar Association website for active licenses and disciplinary records, look for a professional website with matching contact info, check for client reviews and professional affiliations, and trust referrals from trusted sources like other lawyers. Confirming an attorney's standing with the state bar is the most crucial step to ensure they are licensed and in good standing, not suspended or disbarred. 

How to determine if a lawyer is good?

A good lawyer is experienced in your specific legal area, communicates clearly, listens well, has a strong reputation (check Bar Association records & referrals), charges transparently, and makes you feel comfortable and confident in their ethics and abilities. Don't just trust ads; look for expertise, a good work ethic, and a personality match, asking pointed questions about their approach, fees, and team during an initial consultation. 

How to pick a good law firm?

Check online reviews, client testimonials, and any available rankings or awards. Experience and Track Record: Ensure the firm has a history of handling cases similar to yours. The number of years in practice can be a good indicator but also look into their success rate and approach to past cases.

How do you spot a bad lawyer?

Signs of a bad attorney include poor communication (unanswered calls/emails), missed deadlines, unpreparedness, unethical behavior (encouraging lies, mishandling funds), vague or excessive billing, making unilateral decisions, and pressuring you to settle without good reason. A good lawyer should be communicative, ethical, competent, and advocate effectively for your best interests, not just their convenience. 

My answer to "how do you defend someone you think is guilty"

36 related questions found

What not to say to your lawyer?

You should not tell a lawyer to downplay injuries, admit fault, lie, exaggerate, withhold details, or trash-talk others involved; avoid telling them how to do their job, comparing them to other lawyers, being overly casual (like saying "you guys"), or discussing irrelevant personal info, as honesty is key, but focus on facts and let the lawyer guide strategy, especially regarding admissions or social media posts.
 

Is $400 an hour a lot for a lawyer?

Yes, $400 an hour is a significant rate for a lawyer, often reflecting experience, specialization, and location, falling at the higher end of average rates ($100-$400+) but can be standard or even considered a "deal" for highly specialized work in major cities, while being quite expensive in other areas or for less complex cases. Factors like the firm's size, location (big city vs. rural), the lawyer's expertise (e.g., corporate, IP vs. family law), and case complexity greatly influence this rate. 

What is a reasonable attorney fee?

Reasonable attorney fees aren't a fixed number but depend on factors like attorney experience, case complexity, location, time/labor involved, and results achieved, with courts often using a multi-factor test (like the American Bar Association's factors) to assess fairness, balancing hourly rates ($150-$400+), retainers, and contingency percentages (25-40% in personal injury) against market rates and the unique facts of each case.
 

What is the hardest question to ask a lawyer?

The hardest questions for a lawyer aren't about legal facts, but about deeply personal situations, like "How can I protect my children from abusive relatives if something happens to me?" or asking for a brutally honest "What is the likely worst-case outcome for my case, and what are my real chances of winning?", pushing beyond generic advice to uncover hidden challenges, their true battlefield experience, and if they're just sugarcoating the difficult realities of your specific legal problem.
 

Who is Taylor Swift's law firm?

Taylor Swift's primary law firm for many years has been Venable LLP, a prominent firm known for its strong intellectual property and litigation teams, with key attorneys like J. Douglas Baldridge and Katherine Wright Morrone representing her in major copyright, trademark, and defamation cases, including her significant 'Shake It Off' lyric trial and recent disputes related to her film projects.
 

What is the most common complaint against lawyers?

The most common complaints against lawyers center on neglect, lack of communication (unreturned calls/emails, no updates), and fee issues (excessive, unclear, or improper billing), often stemming from poor client management and unmet expectations. Clients frequently feel uninformed, ignored, or surprised by costs, leading to formal grievances about missed deadlines, lack of transparency, or attorneys failing to act in the client's best interest, says Lalegalethics.org and ABA Journal. 

What are the signs of a weak case?

In that case, it's crucial to consult with a skilled criminal defense lawyer in California to evaluate your options and determine the best course of action.

  • Lack of Evidence. ...
  • Conflicting Evidence. ...
  • Inadmissible Evidence. ...
  • Excludable Evidence. ...
  • Unreliable Witnesses. ...
  • Lack of Motive or Opportunity. ...
  • Errors in the Criminal Complaint.

Do lawyers make $500,000 a year?

Yes, many lawyers earn $500,000 or more annually, especially Big Law partners, senior corporate counsel, specialized litigators, and successful solo practitioners in high-value fields like IP or medical malpractice, though this is not the norm for all attorneys, with median salaries being much lower. Reaching this income level requires specialization, strategic business growth, marketing, and often working in major markets, with top-tier law firms (Big Law) offering high starting salaries and significant bonuses that can push senior associates past the $500K mark.
 

How to spot a fake law firm?

Warning Signs of a Fake Law Firm

  1. New Online Presence. ...
  2. Lack of Credibility. ...
  3. Absurdly High or Low Fees Charged. ...
  4. Demand for Upfront Payment. ...
  5. No Physical Address. ...
  6. Check Their State Bar Association Status. ...
  7. Look Into Their Bar Card. ...
  8. Don't Fall for Revoked or Suspended Law Licenses.

How do you know if you can trust a lawyer?

How to Know if Your Lawyer is Trustworthy

  • You Can Verify Their Credentials. Any reputable attorney will be easy to verify. ...
  • There Are Positive Reviews Online. When people are satisfied with a law firm's service, they often want to tell others. ...
  • They Have Clear Practice Areas. ...
  • Discuss Your Case With an Attorney in St.

How to check if a firm is legit?

Registration data, licensing details, tax identifiers, and address verification form the foundation of a legitimacy check. These baseline indicators help ensure the company exists where it claims to, operates within regulatory boundaries, and can be traced across official records.

What not to tell the attorney?

You should not tell a lawyer to downplay injuries, admit fault, lie, exaggerate, withhold details, or trash-talk others involved; avoid telling them how to do their job, comparing them to other lawyers, being overly casual (like saying "you guys"), or discussing irrelevant personal info, as honesty is key, but focus on facts and let the lawyer guide strategy, especially regarding admissions or social media posts.
 

What is the hardest case to win in court?

The hardest cases to win in court often involve high emotional stakes, like crimes against children or sexual assault, where jurors struggle with bias; complex, voluminous evidence, such as white-collar fraud; and defenses that challenge societal norms, like an insanity plea, which faces high scrutiny and conflicting expert testimony. Cases with weak physical evidence, uncooperative witnesses (like in sex crimes), or those involving unpopular defendants (e.g., child abusers) are particularly challenging for defense attorneys.
 

What do lawyers love the most?

Here's what lawyers love the most about practicing law:

  • 64%: Helping clients.
  • 29%: Intellectual stimulation.

Is $10,000 a lot for a lawyer?

Lawyers typically charge retainer fees ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on their experience, location, and case complexity. For more complex cases, retainers can exceed $10,000. The specifics are outlined in a retainer agreement, which may be refundable or non-refundable.

How do you tell a good lawyer from a bad one?

One of the easiest ways to tell if you have a good lawyer or not is communication. A good lawyer will always respond to your emails and calls as soon as they can. Also, if they will be unavailable for a certain amount of time, they will let you know.

How much of a 25k settlement will I get?

From a $25,000 settlement, you'll likely get significantly less than the full amount, often around $8,000 to $12,000, after attorney fees (typically 33-40%), case costs (filing fees, records), and medical bills/liens are paid, with the exact amount depending on how much your lawyer charges and the total medical expenses you owe. 

Is it better to have an attorney or a lawyer?

Neither is inherently "better"; they describe different qualifications, with an attorney being a specific type of lawyer who is licensed to represent clients in court, while a lawyer is a broader term for someone with a law degree who can offer general advice but not necessarily practice in court. For courtroom representation, you need an attorney; for basic legal guidance or document prep, a lawyer suffices. 

How old is the youngest lawyer?

The youngest lawyer is generally considered to be Sophia Park, who passed the California bar exam at 17 years and 8 months old in late 2024, breaking her brother Peter's previous record, though she'll be sworn in and licensed in March 2025 after turning 18, as most jurisdictions require lawyers to be 18. She accelerated her education, starting law school at 13 while in junior high and graduating early.
 

Is Kim Kardashian a lawyer or attorney?

No, Kim Kardashian is not yet a lawyer or attorney; she is still working towards passing the California Bar Exam, having recently failed it again in late 2025, despite completing her legal studies through an apprenticeship program and passing the \"baby bar\" in 2021. She consistently expresses her commitment to becoming a licensed attorney, viewing her setbacks as motivation to keep studying for the full bar exam.