Choosing the Right Lawyer to Represent Your Case
Compatibility
One of the single most important elements of any relationship is compatibility. With that being said, this is especially important when choosing a lawyer. So what should you look for in a lawyer? As with any single lawyer, you should be personally comfortable with yours so that you feel free to ask questions and seek advice. Your lawyer should be able to appreciate your input as well as offer up suggestions. The job of your lawyer is to listen to you, as well as advise you legally on what to do. If you’re not comfortable speaking to your lawyer, particularly when dealing with general counsel, you may miss what he or she has to offer. You should be able to talk like real people and your lawyer shouldn’t make you feel inferior with long winded legal babble. If you just don’t get along or you are uneasy about your lawyer you should consider seeking out another.
Knowledge and Capability
As obvious as it sounds, it is extremely important that your lawyer has experience in your area. The more complicated the situation is the more important this becomes. When dealing with complicated issues such as divorce, robbery, or murder it may be wise to seek the legal counsel of a small firm instead of an individual. A single practitioner alone may not have all the knowledge that is essential for winning your case, but a firm of 5 or more lawyers should be able to provide ample expertise. You may also pay more to work with a small firm, but it is well worth the money spent. When it comes down to legal strife you are also more likely to walk away satisfied by using a group of lawyers instead of a solitary lawyer?
Choosing a Sole Practitioner
If you do decide on choosing a sole representative here are some things to keep in mind. Your lawyer should be knowledgeable and competent enough to represent you in court. Consider the type of role you wish your lawyer to play before choosing an individual. As with any lawyer, they should also understand the sensitive nature of time constraints and be able to fulfill your needs in a timely manner. Your lawyer should also be a good listener who can give you realistic legal advice. Your lawyer should be experienced with court proceedings. If you wish your lawyer to play a smaller role, as you represent yourself say so from the start, otherwise they will end up feeling left out and uninvolved.
Having legal expertise is one thing, knowing how to use it is another. Your lawyer should understand the principles of law, as well as the weight of decisions. Your attorney should have good judgment when it comes to giving legal advice and should readily volunteer ideas and solutions. If your attorney does not get involved in your case you may be risking your innocence or proving guilt. Your lawyer should be experienced enough to recognize your situation and seize opportunities to sway the court in your favor.
Jr. Associates
When first seeking out a lawyer you should always get an estimate of how fast your matters can be handled, how much it is going to cost, and how significant your case is to the lawyer or firm. When it comes to time restrictions and court proceedings there are no second chances. It is extremely important that your lawyer understands and respects your appointed dates and times to be in court. You should also find out if the initial person you interviewed with is going to be the lawyer that represents you. Often times, a senior associate will conduct the interview only to later cast you upon a Jr. associate.
Avoid Jr. associates at all costs. They are often ill prepared and inexperienced which can slow down your case, and that’s the last thing anyone wants when dealing with the law. Also, find out if your lawyer travels often, and if so who takes care of their case load while they are away. Do they at least have comparable expertise and skills? Be sure to ask many questions on what type of service you can expect to receive as well.
Fees
When it comes to money and paying fees this is where most people make the wrong decision. Cheap or inexpensive does not always mean you are getting the best deal, particularly when it comes to seeking out a lawyer. There is nothing worse than bad legal advice, and sometimes bad advice can end up costing you thousands of dollars. Of course, some sort of legal advice is better than none at all but you will not benefit by choosing a lawyer that is less expensive either. You should never compromise on your lawyer’s intelligence or capabilities.
Even if he or she is competent to handle the task at hand you still have to figure out if it is worth the money you will be paying. For example, if Lawyer A charges $150/hour and can prepare your case in 1 hour they will be a better choice than Lawyer B who charges only $100/hour, but needs 3 hours to prepare your documents. It is obvious that Lawyer
A is going to be cheaper because they work faster, which means you will ultimately pay less. Before just making a decision based on how much, find out why it takes Lawyer B so long to prepare your case. Maybe Lawyer B recognized an open door that Lawyer A didn’t see, or it could simply be that Lawyer B is not good with time management. Find out before paying any money to any lawyer.
Hire a lawyer that has similar personality characteristics as you. When you share the same biases and objectives it makes it much easier to get the job done in a timely manner. You should also consider your lawyer’s reputation by looking at prior relationships they’ve had with other clients, as well as considering recommendations from other reputable sources. Seek out the qualities you desire from your lawyer by listening to his or her answers closely, how they give personal attention to your case, and through the range of services they offer you. Not only should a lawyer be honest, smart, conscious, and helpful but they should also be sensitive and easy to deal with when it comes to matters that concern you.
