How to Know if a Lawyer is High Quality before Hiring Them?

When it comes to finding a lawyer to represent you in court, it’s important to vet them with the utmost consideration.

There are a few things where you cannot afford to be frugal, and lawyers are a prime example. A great lawyer can turn a helpless case into a win with a smaller sentence. On the other hand, a bad lawyer can turn a strong case into a loss, leaving you drowning in fines or facing long hours behind bars.

Thus, it’s important to do your research and ask around before hiring a lawyer. Here are six tips to help you choose the best lawyer for your case.

1. Specialty Expertise

Firstly, ensure that the lawyer you’re considering specializes in the area of law your case pertains to. To pass the bar exam and become an attorney, lawyers must pass a written test covering all areas of law. However, after they pass the bar, lawyers niche down their practice into one or two specific areas.

A family lawyer representing you in a criminal trial, for example, is not ideal. Not only are they out of their element, but they also likely won’t have the network of resources and experts to draw upon that a criminal lawyer would.

Thus, it’s important to find a lawyer who specialises in the area of law your case falls under. This way, you can rest assured that they know the ins and outs of the law and how to best approach your case.

2. Years of Knowledge & Success Rate

Secondly, you’ll want to consider how many years the lawyer has been in practice. A lawyer who is just starting may be eager to take on your case, but they likely don’t have the same depth of knowledge compared to a lawyer who has been in practice for many years.

Besides the number of years they’ve been in practice, you should also ask about their success rate. How many cases similar to yours have they won? Have they taken your type of case to trial recently? What was the outcome of that? The answers to these questions should inform your decision to engage with a lawyer or not.

You can usually find relevant case studies on a lawyer’s or law firm’s website, like LegalVision UK.

3. Written and Oral Communication

A great lawyer should be able to communicate their thoughts clearly and concisely, both in writing and in speaking. While you won’t need a lawyer who can give impassioned speeches in court, you will want a lawyer who can move a jury or are adept at negotiating settlements on the fly.

In addition, you’ll want to make sure that the lawyer you’re considering is someone with whom you can easily communicate. If you’re constantly having them flake on you when you ask for legal advice, or if the lawyer is dismissive of your concerns, it may be hard to build a fruitful, trusting relationship.

4. Analytical Skills

It’s a given that all lawyers are gifted and prepared to think analytically. After all, that’s what the law is all about—analyzing and interpreting complex statutes.

However, some lawyers are better at this than others. If you’re looking for a top-tier lawyer, you want someone who’s not merely above average. You’ll want someone exceptional at breaking down both simple and complex problems.

This is important because, as your case unfolds, you’ll want a lawyer who can quickly and easily adapt to new developments. The more adept they are at analytical thinking, the better they’ll be at finding solutions to the problems that arise in court cases.

5. Local Reputation

A lawyer or law firm has the freedom to put anything they want on their website or social media page. This can be both a good thing and a bad thing.

On the one hand, it allows you to conveniently compile and sift through past case studies and client testimonials to get a sense of whether or not the lawyer is reputable. On the other hand, it also allows for less-than-reputable lawyers to present themselves in a positive light.

This is why it’s important to not just rely on what you see online but also to ask around your local community. If you know anyone who has used the services of a lawyer in the past, see if they have anything to say regarding their experience, both good and bad.

6. Availability

You’d want your lawyer to be at their A-game when representing you in court. This means they should be rested, well-prepared, and ready to give it their all in the name of justice.

Unfortunately, some lawyers try to take on too many cases at once and end up spreading themselves too thin. Even if your lawyer is the best in the business, their lack of availability could be a dealbreaker.

Before hiring a lawyer, make sure to ask about their current caseload. If they’re already representing a large number of clients, it may be difficult for them to give your case the attention it rightfully deserves.