Check Your Attorney's Credentials- Peter Ricciardelli

“Be careful” is the advice Ricciardelli offers people looking for legal advice, a lawyer or a law firm on the Web.

“It can be scary out there for folks, so be careful when you give out personal information or hire someone to prepare legal documents,” explains Ricciardelli.

Although the American Bar Association has not yet issued a formal opinion on use of the Internet by lawyers, most state bar associations have relevant ethics rules that are taken very seriously by lawyers and law firms.

Also, legitimate firms and lawyers have a notation on their web site that explains where they can legally practice.