how many trials has my attorney won

by Prof. Mabelle Kunde PhD 5 min read

It's impossible to know how many cases a lawyer has "won" because there's no objective meaning of what winning is in this sense. An outcome that is agreeable to one person may not be agreeable to another person. Also, whether a lawyer "wins" often depends on the kinds of cases he takes on...

Full Answer

Do trial lawyers win every case they win?

Step 1. Talk to the lawyer. The easiest way to learn how many cases a lawyer wins or loses is to talk to them. Some attorneys keep this kind of information and can tell you their history, white others may not. All lawyers will be able to tell you, in general, what their history is.

How many cases have you won/lost as a lawyer?

May 05, 2020 · The United States has over 1.3 million attorneys at your service whenever you’re in a legal fix. Your chances of winning or losing a court case majorly depend on your attorney. As such, it is imperative to do your homework on any lawyer you settle for to handle your case. We know how frustrating it can be to get the right lawyer for your case.

What are some win/loss statistics for a criminal defense attorney?

Apr 25, 2015 · Your question is excellent. In my 42 years of practice only 1 or 2 of 1000's of clients have asked. Experienced trial lawyers have won and lost a lot of cases. If someone contends they won every case they are being less than truthful. Best to rely on lawyers reputation or other satisfied clients.

Are some lawyers better than others for criminal cases?

Finding the right criminal defense lawyer is not an easy task, in part because it is difficult to examine an attorney's overall track record. The traditional method of selecting a lawyer has been to rely on a referral from a family member or friend, because there are no publications that keep track of attorneys' overall won-loss records.

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What percentage of cases do lawyers win?

It is not uncommon to see lawyers boast that they have won 90% of their cases.Oct 31, 2011

Which lawyer has won the most cases?

The one attorney listed above with the perfect record, Adam Unikowski, went 6 for 6, which is impressive. But Paul Clement, who put up a 65% win rate, argued 23 cases, meaning he won double the number of cases as Unikowski.Sep 14, 2018

Why do lawyers take on cases they can't win?

Generally, law firms only take on cases that they think they can prove. This is true for two reasons. First, law firms put a lot of time and money into taking cases to court, and they are often not willing to waste time and money on an issue they do not think they can win.Aug 7, 2018

Who is the greatest lawyer of all time?

#1 Abraham Lincoln Lincoln represented clients in both civil and criminal matters. In all, Lincoln and his partners handled over 5,000 cases.

What type of lawyer makes the most money?

Medical AttorneysMedical Attorneys Medical lawyers are among the highest paid types of lawyers and earn one of the highest median salaries in the legal field.Oct 27, 2021

What should you not say to a lawyer?

9 Taboo Sayings You Should Never Tell Your LawyerI forgot I had an appointment. ... I didn't bring the documents related to my case. ... I have already done some of the work for you. ... My case will be easy money for you. ... I have already spoken with 5 other lawyers. ... Other lawyers don't have my best interests at heart.More items...•Mar 17, 2021

How often should I hear from my attorney?

You should never be afraid or feel like an intrusion to contact your attorney every three weeks or so, or more frequently if there is a lot going on with your health or other matters related to your legal case. There is of course a limit to how much you should be contacting or sharing.Jun 17, 2020

Is it normal to not hear from your lawyer?

Throughout the process of getting your financial settlement after becoming injured, there may be periods of time that you do not hear from your attorney. Although this can be unnerving, it is a normal part of the legal process.Oct 25, 2018

What is a lawyer's track record?

A lawyer’s track record is a clear indicator of how good an attorney is at their job. That’s why it’s so important to look at your lawyer’s track record before you get one for the job. However, not everyone knows how to do so. Here’s how to research an attorney track record before you sign any retainer agreement and get trusted personal attorney.

Is word on the street credible?

Word on the street isn’t a very credible source of information, but there’s always some truth to it. A lawyer’s street cred will speak volumes about their credibility and attorney track record. Try to get some recommendations from family and friends for some great lawyers.

Michael A Ferrara Jr

Your question is excellent. In my 42 years of practice only 1 or 2 of 1000's of clients have asked. Experienced trial lawyers have won and lost a lot of cases. If someone contends they won every case they are being less than truthful. Best to rely on lawyers reputation or other satisfied clients.

Kevin Martin Malloy

There are no win/loss statistics. Also, recognize that most cases, if prepared and presented properly, are won or lost based on what juries or judges hear from the witness stand. Excellent lawyers have lost cases and less than excellent lawyers have won cases.

John M. Walsh

You can't. And if a lawyer actually knows the answer they haven't tried enough cases. Meet with them and go with your guy.

David William Neel

There's a saying - a trial lawyer who has never lost a case only handles great cases.

Patrick Kevin Slyne

All of the above are correct that there is no source of win/loss records for lawyers. Occasionally you will hear or read something like "Jerry Spence never lost a case in his years as a prosecutor" which may indeed be true. But this is rare, indeed.#N#In litigation there are always risks of an adverse ruling. No one can predict with...

Mark E. Milsop

I agree that these statistics generally do not exist. However, a pure win/loss record would be deceiving.

Maysoun Akram Fletcher

I agree with the other answers that you can't obtain that info. Ask your prospective attorney questions and see if you're comfortable with him or her.

Step 1

Go to your local criminal courthouse and ask for a listing of recent cases in which the attorney has represented a defendant. While many jurisdictions have case records online, that is not the case in every state or municipality.

Step 2

File an open records request with the public defender's office or local court. If the attorney is a public defender, then his office has a duty to release information regarding every case he has defended while working there and even has to release performance reviews.

Step 3

Call the local bar association and ask for the any records on file related to your attorney. The bar association will have information on disciplinary actions and complaints filed by prior clients.

Michael James Duffy

Many times the best result is an out-of court settlement, where the case does not proceed to trial or a verdict. In some cases, success is determined by limiting damages rather than a decision in favor of the client. There might be various claims, some of which are successes at being avoided while others are all but inevitable.

Patrick X Amoresano

Some attorneys give examples of cases they've handled on their website, and some submit them to www.jvra.com, where you can search the name of your attorney, but you need to bear in mind that only case summaries the lawyer has chosen to submit will be found there...

Christopher Edward Ezold

Before I respond to your inquiry, I must state that we have not spoken, I have not reviewed the relevant documents and facts, and I do not represent you. Therefore, my discussion below is not a legal opinion, but is informational only.

Jeffrey Anthony Skiendziul

If you want to investigate the reputation and acumen of who is representing you then either ask the attorney directly about their past experience, type their name into a google search engine or use this site to review the resume of your attorney.

Aaron Michael Cook

You are not likely to be able to find a chart or graph of an attorney's wins and losses record. You may be able to put something together through public records searches, or through legal research services like Westlaw and LexisNexis. However, you probably won't be able to easily access these sections of the services even from a public law library.

Jonathan Burton Blecher

Unfortunately, you won't be able to get accurate stats about those categories. You will have to rely on a face to face consultation with the attorney and pose those questions.#N#Most lawyers don't keep those sort of stats, but you should be able tell from...

Craig A. Epifanio

Mr. Cook's analysis is spot on. You need to speak with an attorney in person. Get a feel for them as well as asking them about their experience. As Mr. Cook said wins and losses can be very misleading. What might be a win to one client is a loss to another. It depends on how satisfied they are.

John Patrick Guidry II

It's a good idea to ak an attorney how much experience he/she has dealing with your specific issue. Every case is different, and some attorneys have more experience with your facts than others.

Why do people hire lawyers?

Most people hired attorneys because they don't want to sit in court. Well, truth be told, neither do I. The difference between lawyer and client is that the lawyer expects it to take a long time and understands. The client typically thinks it's unjustified. So, your hard truth is that each case takes time. Be patient.

What happens if you don't pay your lawyer?

If you don't pay your lawyer on the day of trial, or however you have agreed to, then while he or she may be obligated by other ethical duties to do his/her best, they won't be motivated by sympathy for you, and it will show in court.

Can a lawyer take your money?

While lawyers can certainly take your money and your time and we can file a case that will be very hard to win, if you don't care enough about your life to get a contract, the judge is not very likely to be on your side. At least, not automatically. Oral contracts are extremely hard to prove. What are the terms.

What to do if your lawyer doubts you?

Tell the Truth. If your lawyer doubts you in the consultation, or doesn't think you have a case, while that may change over time, getting over an initial disbelief is very hard. You have to prove your case. Your attorney is not your witness. They are your advocate - but you are responsible for coming up with proof.

Why is credibility important in court?

Credibility is one of the most important things in this world - and most important in a courtroom. If you care enough only to wear sweats to the courthouse, then the judge will see that you don't care, and that will be reflected in their desire to help you, listen to you, and decide in your favor. Step it up.

Do juries get it right?

While juries usually get it right, sometimes, it's not about whether a particular matter is emotional or simple, complicated or straightforward. Sometimes people make decisions on who has the nicer suit, or who is more pleasant to deal with. So even if your case is good or even if it's not so strong.

What is a notice of withdrawal?

This letter will prompt the attorney to file a notice of withdrawal with the court. In most states, the notice of withdrawal must include the client’s address. That way, the court, opposing attorneys, etc. will send the client any important paperwork/notices rather than sending them to the attorney.

When are court records open?

August 9, 2019 at 7:24 pm. Court records are generally open to the public. You can go to the court where your case was filed (usually, the county where the accident occurred or where the defendant lives) and request to see the court file (go to the clerk’s office in the courthouse).

What is the ethical obligation of a lawyer?

A lawyer has an ethical obligation to communicate with his clients. If he’s holding documents or if his lack of communication is holding up your ability to settle the estate, he’s not meeting his ethical duty to you as a client. You might wish to send a certified letter, as you mentioned.

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