This is especially important in a firm with several attorneys. The attorney you hire should have the time to meet with you in the office and speak with you on the phone. They should be the attorney appearing with you and for you in hearings. The attorney you hire should be the attorney who will be negotiating on your behalf, and if necessary, take your case to trial. In some firms, after your initial consultation, your case may get handed off to an lesser-skilled associate. Make sure your case is getting the attention it deserves from the attorney you hired. The last thing you want is for your case to be used as a “learning experience” for a new attorney.