Many lawyers tend to focus only on one area, or several related areas of law.
In your search for the right lawyer, you should look for a lawyer who understands
and has experience in the specific area of law for your issue. For example,
a divorce lawyer may not be able to help you if you are considering declaring
bankruptcy for your business, but a bankruptcy lawyer who understands bankruptcy
and business law would be a perfect match. Reputable lawyers will be upfront about
their experience and specific focus, but it will save you some time by narrowing
your search beforehand.
Practice size is definitely something you should take into account. Some firms
consist of only one lawyer, while some firms retain hundreds. There are many different
types of law firms, some of which focus on very specific issues, while others may be
more general. For instance, a large corporate firm may not help if you only need a
lawyer to review a contract or a few documents, but may be the right choice if you
are filing a personal injury suit against a large company. If your legal issue involves
only small sums of money, or a few documents, a small firm may be more cost-effective.