You might find yourself on the wrong side of the law at one time or another. If a situation arises, the proceedings on which are taking place in court, each person, no matter how “savvy” in the law he may be, can be given advice – to find a lawyer who can provide competent legal assistance and represent the client’s interests in court.
A perfect example is a college or university student who goes against Title IX laws. You can hire a qualified Title IX defense lawyer to handle your case. What are the qualities to look for when choosing a lawyer? How do you pick the best? We will look at different things to consider in such a scenario.
What Should You Pay Attention To?
Before evaluating a lawyer, you need to determine by what criteria to conduct the analysis. After all, a good lawyer does not have to be dressed in a designer suit, but he should be well-versed in jurisprudence and express thoughts competently and coherently. We list the basic requirements for a lawyer below.
First impression: they are greeted by their clothes …
A human rights defender does not have to wear an expensive suit, but his appearance should be consistent with his status. Who in court will listen to a man in jeans and a wrinkled shirt? At the same time, accuracy, like literacy, is the companion of a professional lawyer in everything: in the preparation and storage of documents, in a letter, in a conversation. An experienced lawyer knows how to be charming and tough, find heartfelt words, and instantly remember complex formulations and law articles.
Education, experience, successful cases: what says about the level of professionalism of a lawyer?
Education received at a recognized law university is undoubted merit, but it is far from the main thing. Not every lawyer can become a lawyer: to start an independent practice, you need to have at least 2 years of experience in the specialty and pass a qualifying exam. After that, the applicant must apply to the relevant commission, where his status will be confirmed.
However, the most critical indicator for a specialist is his work. It is worth asking how many cases were held by the lawyer and how many of them were won (and it is good if the format of the cases was similar to yours), how long the proceedings lasted, etc.
Remember that failures are inevitable in the practice of any, even the most successful, lawyer. Therefore, if a lawyer speaks only of won cases, this is a reason to think about the integrity of his words. Most often, even private lawyers conduct a free first consultation. The client can ask all questions of interest about the lawyer’s specialization and experience, as well as outline the essence of the appeal.
Specialization: Flies and Cutlets – Separately
A good lawyer is not one who takes on any case but one who specializes in a specific area of law. It is impossible to understand everything. Moreover, the legal framework is constantly changing. To be a real professional, you need to work in one area for a long time, study the practice in the chosen category, both your own and your colleagues – this is the only way to understand law enforcement with distinction.
This allows you to gain legal experience and understand the tactics that are best applied in specific cases with a given judge and prosecutor. A “universal” specialist simply cannot cope with such volumes of information. And of course, do not forget about connections in a particular area – it is not customary to spread out loud about the necessary acquaintances. They are always helpful, especially in the legal environment.
Assessment of the Problem: Is it Worth the Candle
So, the lawyer makes a positive impression, his specialization is appropriate, and he has experience in similar cases. Now is the time to examine his approach to work. A genuine specialist already at the first meeting tries to understand the matter, listens carefully to the client, and asks clarifying questions. At the same time, he does not hide anything and is ready to explain his subsequent actions in an accessible, non-legal language.
A competent lawyer will not promise mountains of gold and will warn you about possible options for the development of the situation, outline all the nuances – including negative ones, tell you about the greatest probability of one or another outcome. If a lawyer immediately claims a 100% guarantee of winning the case, think before giving money for his services.
Lawyer Fees
The last (not the first) question in the discussion should be the announcement of the amount of remuneration for a lawyer and the procedure for payment. It is also worth learning about the possibility of additional costs in the case. The prices for the services of a lawyer can be completely different and depend on various factors: the complexity of the case, the duration of the process, and others.
