How do we pick the right lawyer for us?

Is there any way to find out about the quality of a lawyer and the "fit" with our company before engaging his/her services?

We are a small startup and would like to avoid costly legal fees if it turns out we need somebody else. I guess it's hard to say in advance what kind of issues can come up later on but for now we would need somebody who has experience with technology startups and can help us get off the ground.