Let me start with saying that do-it-yourself lawyering has its limits. Surely, you are able to draft contracts all on your own, you are able to survive gruesome negotiations with your business clients, you are able to settle a marital dispute among yourselves but when the need to come to court arises, you have to get a lawyer. Expenses will be incurred, professional fees must be paid and the usually lengthy process must be endured. More often than not, the costs of resolving an issue are far greater than the costs of avoiding the problem. Prevention, as they say, is obviously a lot better than cure. So hire a lawyer and hire a good one.
Qualifications
The "practice of law" is loosely defined as ministering to the legal needs of another person by the applying of legal principles and knowledge by way of a person been trained in the law. By this definition however, a paralegal or perhaps a secretary who has familiarity with the laws, who has been "trained" by the sheer fact of experiencing been employed for a period of time in a law firm, is known as engaged in the practice of law . When locating a lawyer therefore, choose a "qualified" lawyer. Meaning, make sure that your lawyer has successfully completed his law course, has successfully passed the bar examinations and is licensed to apply in the jurisdiction in which a particular legal relief is asked for. When facing a legal dispute, the past thing you will need is a fake lawyer. It's perfectly ethical to require a lawyer license when you even begin to fairly share your innermost secrets with them. Normally though, they would hang their certifications on the wall.
Expertise
Every qualified lawyer has their own expertise. He may be a specialist in any among the following categories of law: international law, labor law, civil law, taxation law, litigation, or criminal law. They are the major categories. Thus, you might hear of a litigation lawyer or an immigration lawyer. Note however, that lawyers' specializations are "acquired" through experience, not since they think they are great at it.
Personal Qualities
This is taking care of of lawyering in which a young, inexperienced lawyer can actually get in front of a skilled one. Young lawyers are generally vibrant, supportive and sympathetic. They tend to deal with their clients like their babies. They take care of every little detail, even the unimportant ones. But this exactly is how paying clients wish to be treated. Clients often feel they are getting their money's worth with the kind of attention they are getting.
The personal qualities to find in a lawyer depend greatly on the kind of client you are. If you are the no-nonsense type, you might prefer to hire an older, retirable lawyer. These kind of lawyer are less interested in everything you need to say. Sometimes, they are not interested in what they have to say. Lawyering has changed into a routine for them, much like brushing their teeth in the morning. But their experience is impeccable. Their strategies are tried and tested so your chance at winning your case is considerably high if you obtain them.
Credibility
The credibility of a lawyer may be viewed in several contexts. It could mean lack of a negative reputation. It can be built on charisma in conjunction with referrals from past satisfied clients. It can be destroyed by the lawyer himself, as when he provides legal services and overturns their own legal opinion without cushioning the effects. To make sure, no lawyer can ever get clients if he is not believable and trustworthy.
Availability
So you now have a qualified, expert and credible lawyer having the non-public qualities you look for. Another thing to consider is whether that lawyer can be obtained to attend to your problem. More often than not, your lawyer will say that he is willing, able and happy to aid you. Behold, he explained a similar thing to many others today, and last week, and the week before that. The point is, a lawyer can only just do so much. He can't be attending hearings all at the same time. He may possibly resort to cancelling or rescheduling hearings and important meetings to make ends meet. If your chosen lawyer includes a law firm, there will certainly be other lawyers who will attend for your requirements in case he is not available. You will find this acceptable however not until your case has been reassigned from one hand to another.
Professionalism
Having a "professional" lawyer is so much distinctive from a having a lawyer who were able to "appear" professional. They claim that lawyering is 80% representation. The representation begins when you first meet your client. A lawyer would normally supply you with the "lawyer look"--- wears a suit, clean-cut, drives a dark luxury car, and brings a suit case. This, however, isn't what defines professionalism. Professionalism means that your lawyer does attend to your needs, makes his research, beats the deadlines, and returns your phone calls. So don't be fooled by the lawyer-look alone. It will be great if your lawyer can pull it off with the lawyer look and the genuine professionalism though.
