21 February 2020
Qualities of a Good Lawyer
Contrary to popular belief, not all solicitors are “in it for the money.” Good lawyers are the ones who are there for their clients when they need them most.
A strong presence in fighting your corner, using reasonable and ethical judgements, as well as the legal system, to achieve the best outcome for you.
An advocate, working with you, for you, and alongside you.
Of course, there are many different types of lawyers in Pontefract to choose from, and we understand that as part of this choice, undoubtedly you want to select a good one.
In this post, we look at the qualities you should look for in a good lawyer, as well as the qualities good solicitors should seek to develop throughout their career.
Qualities that reveal a “good” solicitor
First and most importantly, you need to be at ease with your chosen lawyer. Having open and honest correspondence allows information to be passed much more freely and allow for the best course of action to be taken.
Professional law firm in Pontefract, JWP Solicitors, are just one of the many legal firms that also provide clients with a clear and transparent pricing structure. Knowing up front about costs and fees associated with legal situations allows you to understand the true value of a case. As well as avoid any awkward conversations with your lawyer, further down the line.
It’s also important to note if your lawyer charges hourly or if a flat fee for certain legal endeavours is available. It’s also important to ask about any additional or extra fees that might be required.
These additional or extra fees can include things such as court filings and even the printing of documents relating to your case.
Like with anything, it’s essential to do your homework and check out lawyers and their firms online reviews. Checking what other people’s experience has been with the firm, and ultimately if the services they offer to match up to expectations. A good solicitor will have nothing to hide.
You can also check with the Bar Association to see if any type of gross misconduct has been filed against any solicitors in Pontefract or indeed their firms.
Make sure to ask about their experience too. For example, is this the first time they have handled a case like this? What is their success rate for such cases? Legal charges etc.
In any relationship, especially that between a client and an attorney, communication is key. A good solicitor will be the one who returns phone calls and replies to the emails promptly.
Ultimately, you want to feel like you’re a valued client, and as such, you are treated and made to feel this way at all times.
Skills of a good solicitor
Having an in-depth understanding of the law and an impressive academic background matched with experience are all traits we would expect a good solicitor to offer.
Other more `softer` skills that make a good quality lawyer include:
- Good communication and listening skills – excellent public speakers, with a good command of the English language
- Being rationale – the ability to draw logical conclusions and assumptions, by considering all information critically and being able to identify potential weaknesses
- The ability to be decisive – there’s no room for sitting on the fence in law
- Managing data and information – putting evaluation skills to the test, understanding and using the data to resolve certain situations
- Extensive research skills – the cases solicitors take on can affect people’s lives, so being personable and persuasive is critical
- Perseverance – shows a high level of commitment to cases, helping to drive for a successful outcome in every case
- Creativity with problem-solving – knowing that sometimes the best solution isn’t always the most obvious and thinking outside the box is often key.
Finding a competent solicitor who has experience as well as a good success record is the first step to finding the right solicitor for you.
Finding one who is an excellent communicator, someone whom you can trust, and who also doesn’t charge the earth, however, can be the most crucial step.
If you’re looking for family lawyers in Pontefract to help you with your legal matters and cases, look no further than JWP solicitors. With many years of experience as family law solicitors, we’re on hand to help you with all your legal matters.
