Never retain a lawyer until you check the attorney out very carefully – research is really the only way to separate good personal injury lawyers from bad ones. If you’re not used to researching lawyers online or in your community, begin by checking two important legal associations. These groups, which are the American Association for Justice (national organization), and the local Bar Association (state-wide organization), will carefully vet their members based on a series of defined criteria and requirements. If your prospective personal injury lawyer doesn’t belong to either of these groups, you may want to look elsewhere. Conversely, if your potential lawyer belongs to both groups, you may be onto a good thing. Another clever strategy for separating the wheat from the chaff is to do Google searches for the lawyer’s name. Looking at media reports, legal reports, and other relevant data about a potential personal injury lawyer is really a wonderful way to get the low down on their reputation. A reputable lawyer will have a very clean reputation and generally positive online reviews. A disreputable lawyer will have a checkered past in and out of the courtroom. Be sure to do your homework before signing up with a personal injury lawyer – once you’ve signed on the dotted line, it will be much harder to end your relationship with an attorney. It’s important to avoid the bad apples right from the very start. After all, a terrible personal injury lawyer will hurt your chances of getting monetary awards that cover your legal costs, medical costs, and related expenses. Most personal injury lawyers will post biographies in their Web and community promotional materials. If you have such a biography, read it through carefully, and then try to read between the lines…look for indications that a lawyer has received a stellar education, as well as awards and achievements that recognize his or her intellect and abilities. If you’re not sure which colleges and law schools are highly ranked, visit a website that is devoted to ranking these institutions – there are many such websites, and they offer some insight into which colleges and law schools are most prestigious. If your prospective personal injury lawyer was a scholarship student at a top ten college, they are likely quite well-educated and hard-working. Conversely, if your lawyer graduated from a very low-ranking school and didn’t graduate with honors or other accolades, he or she may be average…or worse. Personal injury lawyers run the gamut, so use each lawyer’s biography to investigate their education, as this provides important clues as to whether they are good or bad lawyers. Use your contacts and connections to get a reference from someone in your own community – word-of-mouth recommendations are worth their weight in gold. If you’re currently working with lawyers for taxes, contracts, or other purposes, ask these attorneys who they would recommend for a personal injury case. Chances are, family, friends or colleagues will have vital information about local personal injury lawyers who might be able to give you the service and expertise that you really need. Once you’ve gotten a few referrals, check each lawyer out thoroughly and schedule meetings to discuss your case. Bear in mind that some lawyers will charge you for a consultation about your legal issues. As you can see, there are myriad ways to research personal injury lawyers; by following the steps we’ve outlined here, you’ll quickly become more adept at recognizing great personal injury lawyers. With our tips, you’ll also be able to spot very bad lawyers who will simply waste your time and money. Now try – Personal Injury Compensation Claims