How to Choose a Lawyer in Pennsylvania: What Makes an Attorney an Expert?
How do you find the right lawyer in Pennsylvania—and what makes an attorney an expert? In this episode of the Legal Tech Podcast, Pennsylvania attorney Daniel J. Siegel examines lawyer advertising, attorney credentials, and the difference between a persuasive marketing message and demonstrated legal experience.
Billboards and television commercials can make a law firm familiar, but they tell only part of the story. Siegel discusses what consumers should consider when choosing a Pennsylvania lawyer, including professional referrals, relevant experience, disciplinary history, and a record of handling matters like theirs. He also explores how a firm’s approach to moving cases and generating fees can affect the attention given to an individual client.
The episode addresses claims of legal expertise under the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct and explains the distinction between formal specialist certification and expertise supported by experience, training, or education. Using Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyers as an example, Siegel discusses specialist certification and why consumers should evaluate the qualifications behind an attorney’s professional designation.
Drawing on his own experience with workers’ compensation appeals and litigation in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Commonwealth Court, and Superior Court, Siegel explains how appellate work, referrals from other attorneys, teaching, and published legal writing can help consumers assess a lawyer’s background. He also discusses why a record of successful results matters—and why past success never guarantees the outcome of a particular case.
Topics covered include:
- How to evaluate a lawyer’s qualifications and experience in Pennsylvania.
- What attorney advertising can—and cannot—tell you about a law firm.
- The difference between a certified specialist and an attorney with demonstrated expertise.
- Why professional referrals and attorney disciplinary records deserve attention.
- How to look beyond advertising when choosing a workers’ compensation, personal injury, estate planning, or Social Security disability attorney.
Whether you are hiring a lawyer for the first time or comparing Pennsylvania law firms, this episode offers a practical framework for making a more informed choice: look beyond the advertising and consider the attorney’s qualifications, judgment, and commitment to your needs.
The Legal Tech Podcast is sponsored by the Law Offices of Daniel J. Siegel LLC and Integrated Technology Services LLC, both based in Havertown, Pennsylvania.
