I understand how overwhelming it can feel when you’re just starting that process. From what I’ve seen, it often helps to focus on professionals who have specific experience in the relevant area of law and who explain things in a way that feels clear and respectful.
When someone I know looked into legal help, they made a list of questions to ask during an initial consultation — for example, how the lawyer approaches communication, what experience they have with similar situations, and what the early steps in the process usually look like. Taking time to feel comfortable with the lawyer’s responses and tone made a difference in feeling confident about the next steps.
While we were gathering information, this page on sexual assault lawyers helped us get a sense of how some legal teams describe their services and what kinds of support they offer. It was useful for forming questions to ask and understanding what to expect during first contact.