What to Know About a Lawyer Before You Work with Them

Your relationship with your attorney hinges on more than just the information you can find on their CV. Among other important attributes , they must have extensive experience handling cases similar to yours. They must also have the right approach in order to represent your case effectively, whether that is in court or through filing the right paperwork at the right time. Without these qualities, even the most impressive credentials can fall short of your expectations.

So, the next time you are trying to figure out how to find the right lawyer, study up whether they can meet the following criteria first.

Qualities to Find in a Good Lawyer

The first thing you want to do when digging around for a good lawyer is weigh their merits from as many different angles as possible. Good qualities to have include:

• Experience — Several years of experience, at least, practicing law in the field your case concerns is a bare minimum.

• Accessibility — A lawyer’s no good to you if you can never get in touch with them. Look for a lawyer who can respond directly to your inquiries in a timely manner through your preferred communication channel.

• Good Analytical Skills — At the heart of every case is a story. That story involves the plaintiff, the law, and the circumstances that lead to a breach in the law, causing harm to the plaintiff. This story has to be compelling, so your lawyer will need to be able to understand your situation in detail, almost as if they were there, and also grasp how the law specifically applies to it.

• Solid Research and Investigation Skills — Mediocre lawyers barely scratch the surface of their cases. Good lawyers dig deeper, assembling compelling evidence while finding related case rulings that reinforce their client’s position.

• Good Presentation Skills — Knowledge and research is only half the work for a lawyer. They must also present their case in a clear, compelling manner not just in court, but also in mediation and during negotiation with other parties. Without solid presenting prowess, a lawyer can make a solid case look weak, letting the other side gain an advantage.

How to Find the Right Lawyer for You

A lawyer can possess a great skillset but still be not a great fit for you or your case. So, not only should your lawyer have all of the above qualities, but they must also have specific attributes beneficial to your working relationship.

• Related Case or Courtroom Experience — Your lawyer should be able to cite specific cases very similar to yours that they have won, and they should ideally be familiar with the jurisdiction, courtroom or judge who will be handling your case.

• A Good Rapport With You — Some people “click,” with their attorney, and others don’t. This connection matters because your lawyer should be able to communicate with you in terms you understand, and you should also get the feeling they care about your case. Don’t take this to mean every lawyer should be charismatic, but they should always put clients at ease and have discussions based on solid mutual understanding.

• They Listen to You — Listening is part of the job that law schools don’t always teach. Too many professionals in all fields only “skim” parts of the conversation when talking with clients. Your lawyer should be able to listen to every detail you share and have great recall during later meetings.

Why Consider Gruber

At Gruber Law Group, we try to go above and beyond the requirements we have just listed so that we can exceed our client’s expectations. Qualities that set us apart include:

• 24-48 hour response times for all client communications, whether by phone, fax, text or email.
• No Fee Guarantee means you don’t pay anything if you don’t recover money from your case.
• Low Fee Guarantee means you never pay more in attorney fees than you earn from your case; we also match other attorney’s fees if you can find ones lower than ours!
• We maintain proactive client relationships, touching base with you once a month at very least and making sure you stay up-to-date on all case developments. We also explain the stages of litigation your case will likely go through, and we make sure you stay an active participant from beginning to end.
• We have experience arguing all types of personal injury and employment cases in courtrooms throughout the Bay Area and beyond.

To sum it all up: we actually give a hoot about our clients and their cases. We always want to put you at ease and keep you informed so that you can feel like the one in control of your case, not us.

If you think you can find what you need in our services, contact our personal injury attorneys today.