The first step to choosing a lawyer is identifying a legal problem. Most lawyers in a major metropolitan area are more specialized in a specific aspect of law than rural lawyers. General practitioners of law are more common in rural areas. Identifying the legal problem will help to save time in finding a lawyer that will suit your needs. Ask friends, employers, co-workers, relatives, etc for referrals to a lawyer that could help. It would be important to discuss with these people the nature of the legal problem in order to reduce confusion. Many online resources offer lawyer directories that could concentrate your search to geographic area and the lawyers’ area of expertise. Local bar associations could also be a good start in your search for the right lawyer. However, some local bar associations do not offer referral services. Most local bar associations have a website or could be found in the phone directories. Most local public libraries carry a lawyer directory called the Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Directory. These books have lawyers from all 50 states and Canada within their directory and could be found in the libraries reference section. If having difficulty finding the lawyer directory, ask a librarian. If all of the above fail, ask a lawyer if he or she could refer you to another lawyer in an area of expertise that is not his or hers.