In 2026, there are seemingly countless pathways to find the correct lawyer to take on your legal troubles. However, the abundance of choices also makes it harder to find the attorney best suited to you and your personal situation.
When you are in search of a particular type of lawyer, such as a long-term disability claims lawyer whose work focuses on the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), it’s crucial to take the right steps.. There are many wrong ways to go about finding an attorney.
The following is a guide on what not-to-do in order to find the best attorney to help you and your case.
Protecting Yourself from Direct Attorney Solicitation
Some attorneys engage in shady business practices such as solicitation. While it is unethical to personally solicit clients you do not know, some lawyers still wrongfully seek out potential clients to exploit their struggles.
For example, it would be unethical if an ERISA lawyer waited around by a hospital to seek out someone having issues with their long-term disability insurance. Preying on people in need in order to grow their business is not the correct way to find a legal client, and it should not guide your search for a lawyer.
The American Bar Association does not permit lawyers to solicit potential clients in “live person-to-person contact” when their motivation is strictly financial gain. These lawyers are not looking out for your best interest or hoping to help you and your legal struggles. Rather, they are in search of their next paycheck. Do not let an attorney prioritize their own financial gains over helping you and your case.
Relying on Sponsored Advertisements
When looking for a lawyer online, you will see a handful of firms pop up as the first options to click on the search engine’s front page. However, many top-listed firms are paying for their position on the search page. The wrong way to choose a lawyer is to base your decision off of these sponsored posts. Instead, take the extra few moments to scroll, click on, and investigate the listed websites. The attorneys excessively promoting themselves to you are not necessarily the attorneys you want or need. Some of the attorneys may be high caliber and have a track record of success. Be sure to dive deep into their websites looking for substantive materials showing a history of success.
Advertisements can also follow you around or unfairly target you based on where you are located. For example, like an in-person solicitor, an ERISA attorney’s advert could target areas such as hospitals, where they are more likely to find potential clients. Do not let this predatory form of digital advertising be your primary guidance for finding a lawyer to take on your unique case.
Additionally, attorneys paying for major promotional materials such as television or radio ads may not be best suited for your case. If a lawyer relies upon in-your-face public advertising like a billboard, they may have a bigger need for clients, meaning they could be the wrong choice for you. It is affordable to advertise through platforms like these, so do not assume that an attorney’s impressive promotional materials make them the best fit for your legal troubles. Countless attorneys and firms across the country pay for the thousands of advertisements that play on radios and televisions in the United States daily.
Lawyers may also send you materials by mail. This direct marketing strategy does not fall under the definition of personal solicitation, but these attorneys can still unfairly target you. When these promotions arrive directly to your mailbox, it can be easy to fall for the compelling marketing. Do not fall for a lawyer just because they have reached out to you through the mail.
Guide your own search for the attorney who will best help you. Do not let sponsored materials make or break your decision to hire the right lawyer for your case.
Following Lead Generation Companies and Marketing Teams
Some lawyers use extensive, expensive marketing teams or employ lead generation companies as a way to pick up new clients. When you make a quick online search for an attorney, links to lead generation companies will probably appear near the top of the page. These are not trusted lawyers, but rather a marketing business looking to snatch up your data and sell it to the highest bidder.
Falling for these schemes is the wrong way to choose a lawyer. Investigate website links beyond the front page of Google, and work to make sure that you are about to interact with a real law firm rather than just a profit-focused website for marketers. You want to find a legal expert–not a professional salesman.
Avoid allowing these predatory companies to steal and sell your data for their own benefit by carefully inspecting a web link before clicking on it. Keep in mind these lead generation companies often try to disguise themselves as legitimate attorneys and law firms.
Lead generation companies will select potential clients and sell off their case to a law firm of their own choosing. These companies will choose to focus on generating a profit rather than finding you the best attorney suited to handling your case. Marketing teams should not guide your decision when choosing the right lawyer.
Ignoring a Personal Review from a Trusted Source
You can always inquire with a friend or family member during your search for the right lawyer. If you know someone close to you who has dealt with a similar situation to your own, or who simply knows a lawyer on hand, ask if they would recommend the attorney.
Reaching out for a review from a trusted source like a peer or relative can be a better strategy than relying solely on online reviews, sponsored testimonials, or generic advertisements. Online recommendations can be paid for by an attorney or their firm. If you are able to, speak with someone you know about the lawyer you may potentially hire rather than basing your decision off of a stranger’s suggestion. A close, trusted contact will act for you and your best interests, not for a lawyer’s financial benefit.
So, what should you do?
Choosing a Boston attorney to represent you in an ERISA claim, or appeal or litigation is an important decision. Ask an attorney you already know and trust, “If you had an ERISA claim, who would you hire to assist you?” If you don’t have attorney friends, then dive deep into websites. Look at lawyers who have a verifiable track record of success. When talking to attorneys, do not be afraid to ask questions about outcomes.
Remember, do your due diligence when you are considering hiring a lawyer . Look at reviews, not just for numbers but the quality and depth of each review. Check legal databases if you can find results by the lawyer you are considering. Ask other people you trust.
Go through my website and determine if I am a good fit for you. If I can help you, please contact me, Jonathan M. Feigenbaum, at (617) 357-9700.
