Originally posted on Craigslist
A spoof listing turned up on Craigslist recently. A jokester posted an “Attorney Wanted” ad for help at The White House.
SEEKING LEAD ATTORNEY FOR DIFFICULT CLIENT (1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington DC)
Seeking a lead attorney to represent client involved in an ongoing Federal investigation. Must be familiar with laws and procedures around discovery, executive privilege, international financing of licensed real estate, election law and the Logan Act. Working knowledge of social media, especially Twitter is a plus, as is a better-than-average knowledge of the adult film industry and a collection of Playboy magazines from 1985 to 2010. Must look the part – Gregory Peck or Tommy Lee Jones type. Prior appearances on Fox News a huge plus.
No fatties.
Must be prepared to work with a client who is very forceful and opinionated about his defense and is his own best counsel.
Basically, your job boils down to keeping him from testifying under oath and hoping the rest comes out in the wash.
Ask about our other openings on our staff and submit your resume to be considered for potential openings in the near future. Perhaps the very near future. Like, hit refresh on your browser now. Now again.
The idea that The White House is looking for a lawyer should be no surprise to anyone near a television or the Internet. Since moving into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Trump has gone through attornies like the proverbial crap through a goose.
Before assuming the Oval Office, Trump developed quite a reputation for stiffing his own lawyers, which explains why no one wants to work for him as they have no expectation of getting paid. His last lawyer just quit because Trump does not listen to legal advice. He may have his own pit bulls on staff (Cohen did not describe himself as Trump’s attorney but more of a “fixer” who made problems go away).
If POTUS continues to find it easier to spot a polar bear walking down Pennsylvania Avenue, he may want to check out Las Vegas. According to FindLaw, Nevada’s desert city has more lawyers, per capita, than all but four American metro areas.
One of the earliest things anyone notices when they visit Las Vegas is the quantity of legal advertising. Magazines, billboards, radio and television — the ads never stop. What’s the deal?
Michael Wooldridge, a top-tier Las Vegas criminal defense lawyer, says, “there are a few factors to explain the amount of advertising in the Vegas Valley. One of the biggest is Las Vegas’ attraction as a destination with a transient population and we add thousands of new residents every month.”
A heavy tourist population means aggressive advertising. The Las Vegas Convention Authority reports the city saw over 42 million visitors in 2016.
“While tourism doesn’t account for most of the legal cases, it accounts for some,” said Wooldridge. “Primarily personal injury cases.”
Finding a good lawyer can be the most crucial step taken if you’re trying to win a legal case. If you take your time with the search and focus, you can find a lawyer who has dealt with the specific legal issue facing you — and one you get along with.
Determine what sort of lawyer you need. It’s a must to identify a lawyer who has specialized in the practice area that wraps around your case — malpractice, bankruptcy, etc. It’s a smart idea to find a lawyer already familiar with the courts in your area.
Some types of practice areas include
Step Two
Speak with someone at the city bar association. They often help find qualified lawyers in our area. State bar associations maintain public records about disciplinary actions and complaints against lawyers licensed to practice in the state. Most bar associations provide no-cost referral services can also help you determine, and find, the right attorney for you.
Step Three
Read online attorney listings. There are many sites, including LegalZoom, Rocketlawyer and Avvo.com which offer free reviews. Some sites, like LawHelp.org, are laser focused on assisting low-income individuals locate lawyers.
Step Four
Select three or four of the top attorneys and make an appointment. Schedule a consultation, which most do for free. Be sure to know if you will be charged for an initial consult and stay away from any who aren’t up front with the details. If you live in a state different from your potential lawyer, schedule a phone consult. But keep in mind, you will be prone to want your lawyer to be in court with you, so find a local attorney.
Step Five
List questions to ask at the consult. Much of the information needed can be found on the lawyers website, but in person ask about matters specifically relevant to your case. The lawyer shouldn’t have any problems answer your questions and they should not sound hesitant or unsure. Be sure to probe for information in these areas:
Step Six
Take any pertinent documents to the meeting. The attorney may want other documents, so bring along any you feel may be important to the case. Gather them ahead of time so you won’t have to rush — and overlook something — on the day of the appointment.
The Takeaway
Remember, you are interviewing the lawyer for a job so treat the meeting as such. If you get the sense the lawyer isn’t listening to you, choose a different one — you you feel comfortable with.