What is the best way to find an attorney who deal in tax issues?
Full Question:
Answer:
There are many ways to find an attorney in California:
Attorney public records - Check an attorney's official bar membership record (address, phone number, discipline history, etc.) on the California State Bar's Web site.
Recommendations — Friends, co-workers, employers and even other lawyers can often offer recommendations. Business people or professionals such as bankers, ministers, doctors, social workers and teachers are also good sources.
Certified lawyer referral services — Look in the Yellow Pages of the local telephone directory for a list of State Bar-certified lawyer referral services. In addition, check the listings at the beginning of the "Attorneys" listings, or contact the local bar association. A list of certified lawyer referral services can be found on the State Bar's Web site.
Certified Legal Specialists — The State Bar maintains a list of attorneys who are certified specialists in particular areas of law. A list of Certified Legal Specialists can be found on the State Bar's Web site.
Free legal aid agencies — Some people may be eligible for free legal aid, depending on income and the kind of legal problem. LawHelpCalifornia.org provides low-income Californians with easy online access to basic legal resources and attorney information. Also, many law schools have free legal clinics.
Advertisements — Telephone book Yellow Pages and newspaper advertisements may provide information about a specific lawyer. Some lawyers and law firms advertise on the Internet. The same laws governing advertising in print, radio, TV and other media apply to the Internet. In addition, sometimes lawyers join together and advertise their services as a group.
The California State Bar has a program designed to help people find skilled specialists. Lawyers can become State Bar-certified specialists (and advertise themselves as such) by showing that they have extensive experience and tested ability in their field of law. Currently, the State Bar certifies lawyers in eight specialties: appellate law; criminal law; estate planning, trust and probate law; family law (divorce, custody, support and related issues); immigration and nationality law; bankruptcy law; taxation law; and workers' compensation law.
The State Bar also accredits the certification programs of private certifying organizations in: civil trial advocacy, criminal trial advocacy, family law trial advocacy, business bankruptcy law, consumer bankruptcy law, creditors' rights law, elder law, accounting, legal and medical malpractice, and juvenile law (child welfare). Lawyers certified by these organizations may also advertise as "certified" specialists.
Keep in mind, however, that there are lawyers with experience and expertise in all of these legal areas who simply do not seek certification.
For an online list of State Bar-certified specialists, visit www.californiaspecialist.org and go to Specialist Search. You also can contact the State Bar's Office of Certification at 415-538-2120.
