If you are looking for an established law firm with premier lawyers in St. Petersburg, then we invite you to contact Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, PA. We are one of the oldest and most reputable law firms in the area with a proven track record of success since 1958. All of our lawyers live in St. Petersburg and we are ingrained in the community. Our office is located on Central Ave. in the Sembler Building. We are local and live and work near you.

How to Search For the Best St. Petersburg Attorney Near You

Searching for local lawyers can be challenging. You may get bombarded by advertising on television, on the radio, on billboards, bus stops, etc. Lawyer marketing and advertising can be very creative. But, simply because a law firm advertises, does not mean that it is the right fit for you. Often, the advertisements can be misleading, so you really need to do your homework. I recommend researching the lawyer or law firm through multiple techniques as follows:

Word of Mouth Referrals

Word of mouth referrals are the best way to find a lawyer. If you have a friend or family member who you trust and you know had a similar issue, ask them if they have a recommendation. These referrals are typically the best way to start your lawyer research. But, you still need to take additional steps before you reach out. Not every case is the same and what may have worked for your friend or relative, simply may not work in your situation.

Florida State Bar

The Florida Bar is an excellent tool to check on the lawyer to whom you have been referred. Just click on the “Find a Lawyer” button and enter the person’s name. It will then bring up their education, when they got their license, and most importantly, their disciplinary history. The Florida Bar lists if a lawyer has been in trouble for the past ten years. If you find disciplinary history for the lawyer you are researching, click on the link and read more about what the problem entailed. If a lawyer has a history, you have to question their ethics and how they are going to treat you. At Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, PA, not a single lawyer in our law firm has ever been disciplined. I believe that speaks volumes for our ethics and how you can trust us.

Online Research

Google is a wonderful place to learn information about people. Lawyers are no exception. My suggestion is that you first go to the lawyer’s website and browse. Remember, that this information is being put out by the lawyer, so be skeptical. Also look to see what else pops up for the lawyer. You might find news articles or just simply press releases about his or her accomplishments. Again, the more information, the better, and in a few seconds you can learn a lot. You also might want to look on other lawyer rating sites. I suggest you look on martindale.com, avvo.com, superlawyers, Florida Trend Legal Elite, bestlawyers.com, to name a few. If the lawyer or law firm has been mentioned on multiple sites, you know that the lawyer has already been reviewed by the legal community. Finally, I suggest you look at the reviews. Many sites have review platforms such as Google and Yelp. Take a few minutes to read through what prior clients say about the firm. I have found that reviews are often the best way to get a real feel for how the lawyer will treat you. At Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, PA, we have numerous five star reviews and invite you to read them.

What to Look for When Finding the Best St. Petersburg Attorney “Near Me”

Certain qualities are important to look for when researching the best local lawyer. I have listed some examples to assist your research as follows:

Experience With Your Type of Case

We handle a broad area of legal matters. In our over 60 year history, we have handled every type of case that exists in St. Petersburg. Our main areas of practice are General Civil Litigation, Commercial and Business Litigation, Business, Real Estate, Labor and Employment, Appeals, Personal Injury, Criminal Defense, Estate Planning, Probate, Wills and Trusts, and Property Damage claims. This list is not exclusive, however.

Local Knowledge and Community Participation

As mentioned in the above, we all live and work in St. Petersburg. So, we know the area, the jury pool, the other lawyers, and the judges. More than that, we are involved in many organizations. Sean McQuaid, Aubrey Dicus, and Anthony Battaglia have all served as President of the St. Petersburg Bar Association. Caitlin Szematowicz just finished her term as President of the St. Petersburg Bar Foundation. Andrew Pardun is currently a member of the St. Petersburg Bar Association Executive Committee. Howard Ross is past Chairman of the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce. Jonathan Douglas serves on the Lawyer Grievance Committee for Pinellas County. These positions are just a sample, but reflect how we are involved in the community. No other law firm in the area can compare to this level of involvement and achievement.

Interpersonal Skills

You really need a lawyer who will listen to you and do what’s in your best interest. You need an advocate who can fight when it is time to fight and negotiate when it is time to negotiate. But, you also need a lawyer who will be liked by the people they interact with. It is my suggestion when you are interviewing lawyers to think to yourself how will this lawyer be perceived? We feel like our lawyers all have great interpersonal and communications skills. We invite you to see for yourself.

The Best Attorneys in St. Petersburg Work at Battaglia, Ross, Dicus & McQuaid, PA

We have been rated by US News & World Report as a Tier One Law Firm for decades. This is the highest ranking possible and speaks to how we are viewed. We were also voted as Best in the Bay by the Tampa Bay Times in 2019 for all law firms. But, we are more than simply awards and accolades. We want to help make a difference in your life. We hope that you will contact us for a consultation because we are confident that you will like us and trust us.