Lawyers shouldn't be allowed to ask for retainers, which should be illegal, and they should never be paid if they don't win their client's case. Most aren't motivated to do their best work when they know they'll still get amply paid for doing their worst! -- Web sites are no help for determining a lawyer's real worth. A list should be readily available that gives details regarding each attorney's success rate, client complaints, disciplinary actions, bar exam results, etc. -- If lawyers don't clean up their act soon, their profession, which is the most universally despised, will be among the first to be replaced by AI.