Ask for a fee schedule from every attorney you are interviewing. Legal help can be cheap or wildly expensive, depending on the lawyer, and you need to know what you're getting yourself into. After the proceedings have begun, you don't want to lose your lawyer.
Finding a good lawyer is a lot of work. You should put some time aside to do some research and give yourself a few weeks to compare different options. Meet different lawyers to get quotes and ask for advice. You should not expect to find a quality lawyer right away.
When you hire a lawyer for a lawsuit case, hire one that will take your case on a contingency fee. If a lawyer is not willing to take your case on contingency, consider looking for a different one. If a lawyer wants to charge your hourly for this type of case, then he thinks he cannot win.
Keep a paper trail. Document all conversations and meetings with your lawyer. Take note of all questions asked, as well as their answers and record all arrangements and discussions of fees and charges. Lawyers are only human and make mistakes. Give yourself a layer of protection with excessive record keeping.
Often, lawyers are specialized in a specific area of the law. If you need a lawyer, make sure you find one that can help you in the exact area that you need. Do not try to hire a personal injury lawyer to help you with your bankruptcy. Even if you are referred by a friend, if the lawyer is not specialized in the area of law you need, then keep looking.
See if the people that work in the office of your lawyer are nice people. Is the receptionist nice to talk to and fast to respond? If you are not treated professionally before you retain the lawyer, they will likely treat you even worse once the lawyer is working for you.