2 January, 2020
Making legal decisions is not a task you should take lightly. And even if you have a one percent doubt regarding the decision you are making, you should hire a lawyer and consult with him first. Any decision you make could have serious ramifications, so it is always wise to consult with the relevant lawyer first. Whether you are hiring a lawyer for your business or person dealing, you can always ask for recommendations from trusted people. There are more than 1.2 million attorneys in the US, so you need to make sure when you are choosing an attorney, he or she has all the right qualities that can help you solve your legal issues. Do proper research on the candidate you are considering and interview them. Also, make sure to ask all the questions before you bring them on board. You also need to judge their skills based on interviews and research and then hire them if they fit. Here in this article, I have mentioned a list of skills that every lawyer must-have.
Good Communication Skills
Having good communication skills is important for any kind of lawyer. No matter what field the lawyer specializes in, if he does not have the necessary communication skills to make your case, you will not be able to get the desired results. They must know how to speak for themselves and should have good writing skills as well. The communications skills matter the most when they have to represent you in the court of law. Imagine the worst-case scenario; if you are on trial and your fate depends on the jury, communication skills become the most important thing. The lawyer must possess the necessary skills that are required to convince a jury. This will not be a problem if you go for a lawyer that has extensive experience in court matters.
Must Have a Good Grip on Their Field
Among the 1.2 million lawyers in the US, all of the lawyers specialize in a different field. There are several different kinds of lawyers out there who work in different legal sectors. The different types of lawyers include personal injury lawyers, public lawyers, corporate lawyers, criminal lawyers and family lawyers. Figure out in what aspect you need legal help, and then find the attorney that specializes in that field. For example, if the government takes your property, and you want to claim it back, you can hire an Asset Forfeiture Lawyer. Similarly, analyze your case and pick the lawyers that suit you the most and have good experience in the field.
Research Skills
A lawyer that has good research skills will always provide you with more than one option. You need to look for a lawyer that has a repute to unearth knowledge and find out information that can help you. If you are looking to go out of the country for job experience and are taking help from an immigration lawyer, it is important that you go for the one that is good with research. That way, the lawyer will be able to provide you with not just the best option for you, but will also give you other alternatives as well. Only the one with the best research skills will be able to pick the best legal strategy to define your case.
Must Possess a Creative Mind
A lawyer must not be restricted to the boundaries that theoretical teaching provides. If a lawyer needs to win a case for its client in a tough situation, he will have to think out of the box. A lawyer with a creative mind is a lawyer that will have solutions for you. Presenting logic and substantial proof is one thing, but how it is presented also plays a big role. Your lawyer must be creative enough to introduce everything in a way that makes a convincing argument for you. The books of law can only guide the lawyer in the right direction, execution matters a lot, and it is totally dependent on the lawyer.
A Good Judge
A good lawyer also needs to be a good judge. A lawyer must judge everything he deals with daily, and this includes even the smallest aspects. This comes important when a lawyer is presented with limited information and has to conclude it himself. It is a sin for a lawyer to be scared of making fast conclusions. A lawyer that can judge things quickly and with limited information will always be able to unearth the missing part of the information. He must also be taking notes of the positives and negatives during the duration of the case. These small points can help him reach a judgment that can be beneficial for the case. Generally, lawyers with a good percentage of case solutions are the one with good judgments.
Public Speaking Skills
In extreme scenarios, lawyers are required to deal with the public as well and it is very important that in such a scenario, you should have a lawyer that can handle the public dealings. Generally, good lawyers possess excellent public speaking skills because not only they have to deal with the judge of the case, but has to convince the jury or other stakeholders in the case as well. He should be articulate in what he is saying and must also have knowledge of what information to reveal and what information not to reveal in public. In cases where a matter could become of public’s interest, a good lawyer can make sure you have people’s support by speaking to them in the right manner and with the correct use of words.
Leadership Qualities
When you hire a lawyer when faced with a legal matter, you expect him to lead the charge and define strategies and manage everything. You cannot go for a lawyer that is lazy and is just giving you advice on how to do things. Lawyers need to be active and fully involved. He should be able to manage his staff in a way that gives them the motivation for your case. He also needs to have a good personal touch with his employees so no information that goes through his paralegals or associates must miss his eyes either. Another perk of hiring a lawyer with leadership quality is that you will be completely on the backseat, and he will have an answer for any questions that will be thrown out to you.
Must Understand Your Business
You also need your lawyer to be a quick learner. You do not become a good lawyer if you are not smart or have good observational or learning skills. If you are looking to hire a lawyer for your business, you must make sure that he is aware of who your industry works and how he can contribute to it. Even if the lawyer has great skills but is not much aware of your business, you can consider him if he is willing to learn quickly about it. This makes sure when a lawyer is making legal decisions for you; he is not violating any ethics of that industry. Normally it is advised to bring a lawyer that already has some experience in your industry.
Emotional Balance
A lawyer also needs to have an emotional balance. This does not strictly refer to the fact that he should not let emotions come into his case. But he should also know when the right time to use those emotions is. The example for this can be taken from any trial. Lawyers have to convince the jury in these situations and how they convince them is by showing emotions. They need to make the members of the jury relate with themselves as a human, and this can directly affect the decision of that jury member. And as talking of emotions in a trial, they can get heated, and lawyers can get into serious arguments. They need to keep cool in such a scenario as well.
Must Care For His Client
What good it would do for you to hire a lawyer that does not care for his client. A good lawyer must also establish an emotional connection with his clients. Once a lawyer has signed a client, he must do everything in his power to get a verdict that is in the client’s best interest. If a client is about to lose custody of a child in a divorce case, the lawyer must be able to relate with him or her and must understand their pain in this scenario. A lawyer that cares gives his hundred percent in every case he takes.
Bottom Line
Choosing a lawyer is not about picking the best lawyer in the town. It is about solving the legal issue you have at your hand. As mentioned above, you need to get the best lawyer that suits your needs, not the most famous lawyer in the town. If you go with the wrong option based on the popularity not only you will waste money, but you can face more dire consequences. So, before you make that final decision to hire a lawyer, make sure that he checks all the given qualities above.
