State Bar of California
Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 11:32AM 
All California attorneys are governed by rules of ethical and professional conduct. The State Bar can discipline attorneys who violate these rules. Anyone can check up on an attorney.
Call the Attorney Discipline/Complaint Hotline (800) 843-9053 to find out if an attorney is in good standing with the Bar. The hotline information is in both English and Spanish.
You can request a pamphlet from the State Bar, How Can I Find and Hire the Right Lawyer? It’s also available on the internet. It recommends:
You can decide to hire the lawyer at your first meeting, or you can take time to think things over. You also might want to ask yourself these questions:
Are you comfortable working with the lawyer? Do you believe the lawyer has the experience and skill to handle your case?
Do you understand the lawyer’s explanation of what your case involves? Does the fee seem reasonable?
If your answer to one of these questions is "no," you probably should talk with another lawyer. Otherwise, you may have found the right lawyer for your case.