There are thousands of attorneys in California who appear to have similar education, bachelor’s degrees, and specializations, yet the experience that different clients have with their attorneys are very different from each other.
So how do you know that your attorney is the one to provide you with quality legal representation?
1. Your attorney is not overly confident in the outcome of your case. No matter how experienced and experienced the attorney is, you cannot and should never be sure of the outcome of your case. There are so many facts and circumstances that can come into play as the case unfolds and the nature of our legal system is such that there is simply no way of knowing for sure whether you will win or lose and if you win, exactly how much the other side will recover. .
A responsible legal professional will assure you that they will do their best to represent you as aggressively as possible, but will not make any promises as to exactly how much you will recover and how long the process will take.
2. A good lawyer should not act like an aggressive salesperson. You should not put papers under your hand for your signature telling you that “you are fine and you have nothing to worry about.” Instead, you should explain in simple and understandable terms what you are signing, why it is necessary, and what are the consequences of executing that document. For example, a good attorney will go over your service contract with him, paragraph by paragraph, making sure you understand the scope and limitations of the legal services to be provided to you.
A good attorney will also inform you that you can terminate your contract at any time and seek an alternative attorney and hire a different attorney of your choice at any time.
A good attorney is patient with his clients and makes sure that you have a general understanding of the process and do not make you feel uncomfortable or like you are wasting your time.
3. A good attorney is able to keep in touch with you in a way that makes you feel that your case is receiving the attention it requires. An attorney has a duty to communicate with his client on a constant basis. One of the most common complaints clients report to the California State Bar is that the attorney does not communicate with or return their clients’ phone calls, emails, and letters. Being ignored is a frustrating experience in any setting – professional, social, and especially when it comes to dealing with an attorney. The litigation process is stressful enough and raises many questions or concerns from a client as the case unfolds that must be addressed promptly. A good attorney is not “too busy” to return your calls and keeps you informed of developments in your case.
4. A good attorney will advise you not only how to process your case, but also whether or not it is worth your time, money, energy, and emotions to pursue it. Every fight isn’t worth fighting for, and sometimes it’s a better idea to walk away for your own benefit, even if the other side runs away and isn’t responsible. An honest attorney will not force you to fight a case just to charge you an hourly rate. He truly works in the best interest of his clients, not only defending their legal rights, but also advising them whether or not it is wise to pursue a case entirely.
5. A good attorney is not too busy to handle your case. A competent attorney will not accept more work than he can do in a quality manner. A good lawyer will not sacrifice the quality of his services for high volume of business because he realizes that your reputation and concern for the cases of his existing clients is his priority.
6. Lastly, your attorney does not present himself as a “typical” attorney. A great lawyer challenges the stereotypes commonly associated with the legal profession: arrogance, greed and flamboyance, and substance abuse. He is friendly, personable and charismatic and you really enjoy working with him / her.