In navigating the labyrinthine corridors of law, it is often best to have a guide. This is particularly true when grappling with the complexity and emotional weight of a wrongful death case. The intricacies of these cases can be daunting, and this guide aims to decant this complex process into digestible steps, particularly focusing on the process of hiring the right wrongful death lawyer.

A wrongful death claim is a civil lawsuit brought against a party who has caused the death of another due to negligence, intentionally malignant behavior, or outright malfeasance. From the standpoint of economic theory, it is a mechanism to shift the external costs—both tangible and emotional—incurred by the victim’s family, back onto the party responsible for the death.

This claimant-focused system is in stark contrast to the adversarial model of justice, where both sides are represented equally. This pivot from the adversarial model harkens back to the ancient legal principle of 'restitutio in integrum'—restoring the status quo. However, unlike the ancient concept, the compensation in contemporary practice often involves pecuniary recompense, given that the loss of life can't be reversed.

To successfully traverse this complex legal and emotional terrain, the selection of the right legal counsel is paramount. The first step towards this is understanding the lawyer's ethical and professional responsibilities. As outlined by the American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct, these include competence, diligence, communication, and confidentiality, among others. The importance of hiring a lawyer who adheres to these principles is paramount to ensure that your interests are not compromised.

The second step involves creating a shortlist of potential attorneys. This is where the law of large numbers, a principal theorem from statistics, comes into play. From an array of options, the probability of selecting the right lawyer increases. Factors such as the lawyer’s experience, specialization, reputation, and success record in past wrongful death cases should be given significant weight in this selection process.

Once the shortlist is ready, the third step involves consultation and gauging the lawyer’s litigation strategy. This is a two-pronged process: evaluating the lawyer’s ability in procedural jurisprudence and understanding their strategic approach to your case. In layman's terms, it means you need to assess if the lawyer knows what they are doing and if they have a solid plan for your case.

This is where game theory can be utilized as a tool to assess a lawyer’s strategic approach. Game theory is a theoretical framework for conceiving social situations among competing players and can be used to predict outcomes in legal disputes. Does your potential attorney anticipate the moves of the opponent and adjust their strategy accordingly?

Moving on, the fourth step is the contractual agreement. This mainly involves understanding the fee structure and any other costs. Usually, wrongful death lawyers work on contingency fees, meaning they only get paid if they win the case. This aligns the incentives of the lawyer and the client, as postulated by the principle-agent problem in economics. However, understanding any hidden costs is crucial to avoid any future financial surprises.

Finally, the fifth step is an ongoing step—communication. It is a continuous process throughout the tenure of the case. Regular updates, prompt responses, and clear communication can significantly reduce the stress of legal proceedings.

In conclusion, hiring the right wrongful death lawyer involves a methodical approach steeped in diverse disciplines such as economics, game theory, and statistics. The process involves understanding the lawyer’s responsibilities, creating a shortlist of potential lawyers, assessing their litigation strategy, understanding the contractual agreement, and finally, maintaining healthy communication. With the right counsel, the path through the labyrinth becomes navigable, providing a tangible path towards justice and closure.