In the last decade or so, we’ve seen a proliferation of lawyer advertising. It’s created a difficulty for the public.

You can imagine if doctors advertised. And each doctor said a what a great doctor they were. The patient wouldn’t know or the client wouldn’t know. Why? Because they’re not in the operating room with the doctor or surgeon. Patients don’t really know how to compare one orthopedic surgeon to another. It’s very difficult.

Same thing is true with lawyers. It’s extremely difficult to evaluate lawyers. But one thing that public can ask is: What is the experience of the lawyer? Have they had similar cases? They tried these kinds of cases to a jury? Handled these kinds of cases on appeal? Are they board-certified? Do they have establish ratings? Companies like Martindale-Hubbell and other companies rate and evaluate lawyers. And that evaluation is done by fellow lawyers and judges.

So, there are ways the public can try to ferret out who is really competent and who is not. But lawyers who advertise and do not advertise that they are board certified, that’s a red flag. Board certification is very important in Florida just 7% of lawyers are board certified.