Before hiring an attorney for any legal case, it is crucial that their track record be carefully assessed. This can be done through various channels.
Start by consulting online sources such as lawyer websites and legal directories. Many state bar associations also offer searches by name that display any public reprimands issued against individuals.
Use PACER, the federal electronic records system, to search cases in district, appellate and bankruptcy courts by attorney’s name.
Find out how many cases they’ve won and lost
Finding an experienced attorney with a successful track record can help ensure the best outcomes in your legal battle. But it’s also important to consider other factors, like client reviews and expertise relevant to your legal matter. If you suspect any attorney of misconduct or ethical violations, reach out to their bar association immediately; public records might exist there that can shed more light.
Win/loss records present unique challenges because many cases are settled rather than going to trial, making assessing settlement results impossible due to privacy laws. Therefore, the best way to research an attorney’s past cases is through legal research services; such databases allow users to search specific issues while providing additional perspectives that you may not have considered before.
Ask for references
Attaining professional references should always be preferred; however, if this is impossible for any reason, try calling them or emailing. Just ensure they agree to being used as references before proceeding further.
If they agree, be sure to record this and their contact info in your professional database, so if a potential employer requests one quickly you can quickly reach out and contact them quickly. Make sure you thank them afterwards and let them know if their help was instrumental in landing you the job!
Most states offer bar directories that allow you to review an attorney’s licensing and disciplinary history, including suspension or disbarment for unethical conduct. You may also find out their response to complaints and their plans for correcting their behavior – an invaluable way of ensuring you choose an attorney with a good track record.
Search PACER
PACER, or Public Access to Court Electronic Records service, allows registered users to gain real-time access to federal case records online. Searches can be done for appellate, bankruptcy and district court docket information nationwide or by specific courts.
While PACER provides invaluable information, it does have its limitations. Attorneys frequently change firms and PACER does not reflect this change accurately or misleadingly, leading to inaccurate or misleading data. Furthermore, certain attorneys do not appear on PACER attorneys pages even though they worked on cases for which their signature blocks appear on official filings.
PacerPro provides an efficient way of gathering case history. It brings bankruptcy and district court dockets alive so you can see which attorneys are involved, making this an invaluable tool for potential conflicts searches and monitoring litigation. Registration with this system is free; however there may be fees charged when viewing documents. For more information click here.
Contact the state court
No single way exists to determine how many cases a lawyer has won or lost. If your matter involves criminal proceedings, however, an open records request should be filed with either the public defender’s office or local court where your attorney worked; these offices have legal obligations to release all records associated with every case he or she worked on as well as performance reviews.
State Bar Directories offer another way of researching attorneys. These directories typically contain public disciplinary records as well as other pertinent details, including malpractice complaints and education, training, and work experience details for each practitioner listed therein.
These agencies can be slow in responding to complaints against attorneys. If your lawyer has stolen from or shown gross incompetence in representing you, do not hesitate to report them immediately to the organization responsible for disciplining lawyers in your state – the best time would be prior to hiring them!