What proof convinces you that a lawyer is a good lawyer if he or she has never won a case? ? -

If you heard a lawyer was a good lawyer, but there is no record of winning cases and no record of success, is there a reason that you would trust that lawyer without having personally talked to that lawyer and having experience with them? What about a doctor? mechanic? employee? What about a politician?

Law is a very small community and word gets out if someone is exceptional and/or if someone is a complete failure. It really is just experience and word of mouth. Also, quot;winningquot; a case is not necessarily an indicator of an effective attorney. Many lawyers are successful by avoiding conflicts or litigation. You may also check with your State s licensing department (the Bar) to see if they are in good standing and if they were ever disciplined.

The best way to assess the quality of a doctor is by word of mouth: Ask other doctors, nurses and patients. A good doctor earns a good reputation. The most important thing is trust in a physician, and being able to communicate with him or her in good times and bad. The most important thing you can do for your own health is to build a relationship with a primary-care doctor. In an emergency, one gets better care faster by saying, I m Dr. Blank s patient... quot; Finding a doctor affiliated with teaching hospitals adds one more layer of assurance. Teaching is a sign that a doctor is keeping up with things. Go to a community-based hospital that is service-oriented for most medical problems and save my referrals or personal visits to the teaching hospital for rare or unusually complicated medical problems.quot; Visit a potential hospital to see if the emergency room operates efficiently. Find a physician who is straight out of school. The fact is, the young physician has the profession s most up-to-date training, and considering the rate of evolution in medicine, that can be more important than experience. And the young doctor isn t without experience: He or she has just finished a residency of at least three years, involving an intense caseload of patients. The young physician is likelier to remember you and your medical history, since you aren t the millionth patient of his career. He may have more energy and enthusiasm than would a veteran. And because he s just building a practice, he s almost certain to have availability. Seek a recommendation from someone, preferably a physician or, better yet, a nurse or, perhaps best of all, a chronically ill person. Once you ve picked some potential candidates, schedule an appointment for the purpose of interviewing each physician you ve picked out. Some questions to consider asking: Where did you go to school? Where did you serve your residency? Does your specialty require you to be recertified? How often? Can I get seen today if I m ill? Does your office run on time? What are your philosphies about treatment versus prevention? For instance, if a patient has borderline high blood pressure, do you simply prescribe a beta blocker or do you first prescribe lifestyle changes? Do you teach anywhere? A big question is whether the physician s office is computerized. A computerized office often means you can communicate with your doctor via e-mail.