Directories are an essential part of any attorney’s marketing strategy. They provide a variety of benefits including boosting SEO, participating in community discussions and gaining reviews.
Directories maintained by state bar associations provide public access to attorneys’ licensing and disciplinary histories. They also often include search features such as geographical areas of practice, focus area and language.
Search by Name
The best way to find an attorney is to search by name. Most directories have a search function that allows you to enter an attorney’s name and other criteria, such as their practice area, specialty, or language skills. Some directories also provide advanced search features, such as a geographic search or search by keyword.
You can use the New York State Unified Court System’s search tool to look up attorneys by their last name. However, you should be aware that if an attorney has changed their last name, the search function may not work correctly. When searching by name, try to leave out initials and middle names, as some courts do not allow them.
Having a presence on legal directories is an excellent way to attract clients and build credibility. There are several benefits of getting listed on these websites, including increased visibility and traffic to your law firm’s website. A lawyer directory can also help you increase the number of referrals from past and current clients.
Search by Practice Area
The best attorney directory sites offer a variety of search options. Many of them allow you to narrow your search by practice area, which is particularly helpful for those with a specific legal issue. Others have advanced search features that enable you to find a lawyer based on other criteria, such as whether they speak a particular language or have a certain law school degree.
The State Bar of Michigan’s online member directory offers information about attorneys licensed to practice in the state. It also allows you to search for a particular lawyer by name or license number, and provides basic background information about them and their practice.
The New York State Bar Association is home to twenty-five specialized substantive law sections and more than sixty standing, special, and other committees. Members of these committees and sections are encouraged to take on leadership positions within the NYSBA. Those who do are often given prominent profiles that are linked to their attorney directories.
Search by Specialty
Attorney Directories allow you to narrow your search for attorneys by their practice areas. Some directories also enable you to narrow your search by board certification in a specific specialty area of the law.
Other directories let you search by geographical area or focus areas of law, such as bankruptcy or personal injury. You can also find attorneys who speak a certain foreign language or have graduated from a particular law school.
Some state bar associations and local bar association maintain lawyer referral services. These services are not a substitute for an independent attorney evaluation or recommendation.
Lawyers have an ethical duty to avoid conflicts of interest, so a lawyer’s listing in a particular area of the law does not necessarily indicate that the attorney has experience in your case or that the attorney is an expert in that area of the law. Also, membership in a particular section or committee does not imply that the attorney has been certified as a specialist in that field of law.
Search by Keyword
Legal directories provide valuable backlinks to law firms. These backlinks help boost search engine rankings and increase attorney web traffic. In addition, these directories can verify your NAP (name, address, telephone number).
The most reputable lawyer directories are listed in the ABA’s Martindale-Hubbell directory and FindLaw. Both are based on Westlaw information and receive updates from subscribers. The American Bar Association’s Consumer’s Guide to Legal Help is also available for consumers.
Most state bars maintain online directories that allow consumers to find attorneys by name, bar number, firm/organization, city, and state. Some of these directories are accessible only to members. Others, like Florida’s member directory and the Hawaii Lawyer Referral page, are open to non-members. There are also online directories for individual practice areas, such as personal injury and employment law. These are helpful for identifying specific lawyers with the right skills and experience for your case.