A good tip to keep in mind when thinking about hiring a lawyer is to write down several questions that you wish to ask him or her. You want to find out what their philosophy is and so on, and asking questions will help give you a clear idea about them. If you notice that the lawyer you chose is not doing the job that you were expecting, do not be afraid to fire them. This is the person that you are paying your money for, so at any point you can cut ties. If you are facing a legal matter, you only want the best on your side.
Make sure that you have a decent interaction with any attorney before you invest any money. You may have to spend a good amount of time with your lawyer, so it is important that you choose one that you don't have any issues working with. Take the time to sit down with any potential attorneys and see if you get a good feel for them.
When you are hiring a lawyer, make sure that there is a discussion about the payment plan that you want to instill. Sometimes, you may not have all of the money upfront, so you will want to workout a monthly plan that suits you comfortably. Get this done ahead of time so you don't have to worry about it later.
Make sure your lawyer and you can meet in person to discuss the case regularly. Sometimes, an attorney will get hired and not be heard from for awhile. Setting a schedule from the start is a good way to sidestep such issues.
Find out if the lawyer is experienced with your case type. Look up cases that he has won or lost, rather than just taking his word that he is excels in the field you need help in. If you are unable to find online this information, the attorney should willingly provide it for you.
No matter your reason for needing a lawyer it is important that you know at least a little about how to pick a good one. You should also know what you should expect. Use what you learned to help you whenever you find yourself needing a legal professional in your life.