If you are about to appear in court as a defendant, you want to be sure that you have an attorney who can handle your case and represent you effectively. Finding the right lawyer is not always as easy as it seems, but there are certain qualities you can look for that will make the decision easier.
1. Experience in the Area
That doesn’t mean you must choose an attorney who has practiced for 20 years over one who has practiced for five. You want an attorney who has practiced as a defense attorney for some time. Attorneys often specialize in a particular branch of law, and when they handle a case out of that specialization, they are often at a disadvantage. Attorneys who know an area of law well will be familiar with the various procedures as well as the judge and other attorneys that may be involved in your case.
2. Communication Skills
You want an attorney who is capable of communicating well. This is something you should notice in your first meeting or phone call with the attorney. They should be capable of explaining the legal situation for you so that you can understand it and show signs they are listening to and understanding what you are telling them about your goals for the case.
3. Natural Public Speaker
This ties into being a good communicator. Though you won’t get to see them perform public speaking during their meeting with you, there will be certain important traits you can observe. If they can explain the issues to you in a way you can understand and do so with a tone that sounds knowledgeable and self-assured without being arrogant, then they are probably a strong public speaker.
4. Good Reputation
This is one of the easiest ways of gathering information on the attorney you are considering. If you contact other attorneys, paralegals or clerks, they should be able to give you an opinion on their ability and how they handle themselves in a case. There is a huge difference between an attorney no one wants to go up against because they win often and an attorney no one wants to work with because they are uncooperative and widely disliked. The latter do not always make good advocates because few opposing attorneys–sometimes even judges–will choose work out a deal with them.
5. A Strong Track Record
Various websites will track an attorney’s statistics in terms of win rates, settlements, etc. They also track the number of complaints an attorney has against them and whether they have ever been penalized by their state bar. These can be good indicators for how they will handle your case.
6. A Firm You Like
Even attorneys with small practices will often have some support staff to help them with their case. You should feel comfortable with the staff and other attorneys at the firm; you may have as many dealings with them as you do your own attorney. The staff at your attorney’s office also reflect on your attorney, particularly if they are a partner or sole owner of the practice. If their staff is unprofessional, perhaps your attorney is as well.
Taking these qualities into consideration, you should be able to make an educated choice about your defense attorney. All are equally important, as is your own comfort level with the attorney and if you, personally, think you can work together.
Information credited to Gregory Rod, criminal defence lawyer Edmonton
