Life does not need to be a Worst Lawyer Ever episode

Americans spend a lot of time laughing at videos like the Worst Lawyer Ever (go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reSS9WWHkd4).  While it is fun to laugh, it does nothing to help the people who must participate in the system.  We need to help them find good attorneys.

If you need legal help the quickest fix is to ask for a referral from someone who works with the legal community.  For example, if you need to get a divorce, ask an attorney who is not in competition with divorce attorneys for a referral.  You can ask an attorney who works in government law, you can ask an attorney who practices in business law, you can ask a criminal defense lawyer, and so forth.  Conversely, if you need someone to draft a will then it would be a good idea to ask lawyers who only do family law, because they are not trying to sell their services.  People who work with attorneys such as accountants, financial planners, etc. can also be great resources.

If there is no way to find someone to give you a referral then you can check public records.  It is not hard to find out who is getting into trouble.  If you are in Kansas, you can look up your attorney for free and from a legitimate source.  This information comes from the government and is objective (see http://www.kscourts.org/rules-procedures-forms/attorney-discipline/cases.asp). 

If you don't live in Kansas and want to find the bar admission agency in your state the ABA has a map with information.  Just click on your state (http://www.ncbex.org/jurisdiction-information). Your bar admission agency should be able to tell you how to determine if an attorney is licensed.

ABOUT TAWNYA TADDIKEN JOHNSON, J.D., M.A:  http://tawnyataddikenjohnsonlawyer.blogspot.com/2016/07/tawnya-taddiken-johnson.html
This post is written for educational purposes and does not create a lawyer client relationship.

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