Hiring an attorney will be the most important choice you make when you need to protect your legal rights. There are people in Alaska who are representing themselves to be attorneys and practicing law without a license. Never hire someone who is not licensed to practice law. A non-attorney will not be around to help you when things go wrong and the Bar Association cannot help you if that person commits malpractice.
There are a number of ways to obtain the names of attorneys who practice in a particular area of law. Many attorneys maintain websites which will provide information regarding where they went to school, how long they have been practicing, what areas in which they practice and representative verdicts and settlements.
Besides asking your friends for referrals and searching the internet or the telephone book, you can call the Alaska Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service, 272-0352, to obtain the names of attorneys who practice in the area that is related to your question. If your case is a Workers Compensation case, you can call the Workers Compensation Division for a list of attorneys. The telephone numbers are: Anchorage 269-4890, Fairbanks 451-2889 and Juneau 465-2790.
After you have the names of attorneys who you are considering, you should do some research. First, find out if the attorney is an active member of the Alaska Bar Association. Go on-line to: http://www.alaskabar.org/index.jsp. There is a search engine at the website for the public to use to find out if the attorney is an active member.
On the same website, there is a list of attorneys who are in compliance with "MCLE/VCLE". That means that they have taken all of the continuing education which is required. The public can access that list. It is important that attorneys are current in developments of the law and take ethics courses.
When you call an attorney for an initial consultation, ask him or her on the telephone how much the consultation will be before you go in. Be prepared. Bring all of the documentation which you have regarding your case.
When you meet with attorney, ask if the attorney has malpractice insurance. Be weary of an attorney who does not carry malpractice insurance.
Good communication is critical to good representation. Select an attorney with whom you feel you can communicate comfortably.
Make sure that your fee agreement is in writing.
Keep copies of everything that the attorney sends to you.
You are entitled to be kept up to date regarding the status of your case. Sometimes attorneys get busy and don't have the opportunity to call all of their clients. You should feel comfortable in calling your attorney to request status updates.
Finally, if you do not feel comfortable with the progress of your case, first ask to meet with your attorney to have your questions answered. If you are still uncomfortable, get a second opinion. Meet with another attorney and review your case. The second opinion attorney is bound to attorney-client privilege and is not allowed to call your attorney unless you authorize it.
