Mastery Mondays

“The minute you read something that you can't understand, you can almost be sure that it was drawn up by a lawyer. ” ― Will Rogers

Hiring a lawyer for the first time can be a very daunting experience. Knowing what to expect when looking for a lawyer may help prevent hardship in the long run. However, enlisting the services of the right lawyer for you and your particular situation can make a big difference in the overall outcome of your case and may make a big impact on your future.

Unfortunately, with so many lawyers out there, how do you know if you’re choosing the right one?

Selecting the wrong lawyer can be devastating, so you should make sure to do as much research as you can before finally settling on your attorney. As experts in the field, we at Chin & Orr Lawyers have written down the top five things to look for when hiring a lawyer.

1. Straightforward communication
Make sure that you find an attorney that communicates well and in a straightforward manner. You need to get in touch with your lawyer when you have questions or concerns, and they should also be available for meetings if required. Your case will likely involve many different hearings and conversations, so it’s essential for both parties involved to understand all aspects of the situation at hand as clearly as possible. There should be no double talk, no legalese, and no holier than thou talk from your lawyer. Your lawyer needs to be a real person, someone you can really talk to and who talks to you, not at you.

2. Honest
In your search for the right lawyer, make sure you hire someone you feel you can trust. To do this, talk with other clients, read testimonials, and prepare a few questions for your initial consultation. After the meeting, if you don’t feel you can tell everything to the lawyer, or you get an untrustworthy vibe, keep looking. A good lawyer will not hesitate to tell you the truth about your situation. You need the straight goods, even if the news is not good, how else can you make an informed decision?

3. Understandable
What is the sense in paying for legal advice if you don’t understand what the lawyer is saying? At Chin & Orr, we pride ourselves on explaining the law in a manner that is understandable to our clients. We feel that this is an essential part of our service and go the extra mile to be sure you know what is happening with your case.

4. Hard worker
Law is not a nine to five job. Things happen at the worst times, in real estate, in litigation, in court, and we don’t control the timing of things, but what we do control is our work ethic. If something needs to be done outside of business hours and it cannot wait, we are in your corner.

5. Fair
When conflicts arise, you want a lawyer who can see things from all sides and come out with a fair resolution, saving time, money, and stress. The ability to draw reasonable, logical conclusions or assumptions from limited information is essential for a good lawyer. They must also be able to consider these judgments critically so that they can spot points of weakness in an opposition’s argument.

Influence & Negotiation

Describe a time when you negotiated on your own behalf - did it work out well or not?