Paying for Expertise

Everyone wants to save money, but the cheapest lawyer is not necessarily the best, especially if your problem is complicated or specialized. A novice who charges $150 an hour may end up costing more in the long run than an expert who charges $350 an hour. If your case is unusual or complex, it's probably worthwhile to hire a lawyer who has experience with similar cases.

Some states offer expert certification for lawyers who meet certain requirements -- usually, a certain number of years of experience, experience with complex matters in the field of practice, and successful completion of a written test. Often, peer review -- the opinions of other lawyers -- is also a part of the certification process. You can be sure that lawyers who are certified experts are experienced and knowledgeable. You can also be sure that their fees will reflect this.

You'll have to assess your situation and decide what level of lawyering you need. For example, if you need a lawyer to prepare or review a simple estate plan, there's no need to hire a certified estate planning specialist -- any competent probate lawyer will be able to assist you. On the other hand, if you want to challenge a complicated trust in a case that will involve court litigation and will determine who gets to keep a large estate, hiring an expert could be worth it.