what do clients look for in an attorney

Exploring the Top 3 Qualities That Clients Look For in an Attorney

1. Trustworthiness When clients come to you, they entrust you with sensitive information about their family disputes,...
2. Responsiveness People have grown accustomed to on-demand services, even when it comes to an attorney’s responsiveness.
3. Seamless Interactions

Full Answer

What do clients want in a lawyer?

Clients want to work with attorneys who not only understand how the law works in a particular case, they want you to understand how it will impact them in their industry. Bringing that knowledge to the table as an attorney will help make you a first choice for clients.

What to look for when hiring a lawyer?

Some tips regarding what to look for in an attorney include: Licensing: Your attorney should be currently holding a valid license under their state bar association. Some lawyers may be licensed for practice in multiple states Specializations: Some lawyers specialize in very specific fields.

How do I choose a lawyer for my Small Business?

Ask for recommendations from business owners in your industry or from professionals such as bankers and accountants you trust. Don't just get names; ask them for the specific strengths and weaknesses of the attorney's they recommend. Then take the process one step further: Ask your business associates' attorneys whom they recommend and why.

What questions should I ask when hiring a personal injury attorney?

Ask what types of businesses or cases the attorney has worked with in the past. Get a list of clients or other attorneys you can contact to discuss competence, service and fees. Reasonable fees.

What clients look for in a lawyer?

Most lawyers want to build a strong client relationship. They believe that when they are professional, logical, and offer good advice (and resolve the matter) that they have provided the elements of a good relationship.

What are three important qualities a lawyer needs to have?

Below are ten traits that are common to the best lawyers in the United States.Passion for the Job. ... Compassion for Clients. ... Great Communication Skills. ... Willingness to Listen. ... Knowledge of the Law. ... Strong Writing Ability. ... Creativity. ... Good Judgment.More items...•

What are four things that you should find out about in looking for an attorney?

Five Things to Look For When Hiring an AttorneyEXPERIENCE. One of the most important things to look for in a potential attorney is experience – i.e. experience the lawyer and their law firm have in handling matters similar to those which you are facing. ... LEGAL FEES. ... COMMUNICATION. ... AVAILABILITY. ... HONEST ADVICE.

What are the expectations for a lawyer?

What to Expect From an Attorney#1) They clearly explain your legal strategy. ... #2) They set realistic expectations for outcomes. ... #3) They have an open line of communication. ... #4) They answer your questions. ... #5) They act on your behalf. ... #6) They don't make blatant errors. ... #7) They don't draw out cases unnecessarily.More items...•

What makes a great attorney?

Here are the top 5 qualities of a good lawyer: responsiveness, analytical skills, good research skills, speaking skills, and listening skills. and understand it on the spot. When a case is in session, curveballs will likely be thrown and they have to be able to interpret and respond to them appropriately.

What are the four responsibilities of lawyers?

It describes the sources and broad definitions of lawyers' four responsibilities: duties to clients and stakeholders; duties to the legal system; duties to one's own institution; and duties to the broader society.

What questions should you ask when hiring a lawyer?

Below are ten questions to ask your potential lawyer.How long have you practiced law? ... What type of cases do you generally handle? ... Who is your typical client? ... How many cases have you represented that were similar to mine?More items...•

What's the difference between attorney and lawyer?

Attorney vs Lawyer: Comparing Definitions Lawyers are people who have gone to law school and often may have taken and passed the bar exam. Attorney has French origins, and stems from a word meaning to act on the behalf of others. The term attorney is an abbreviated form of the formal title 'attorney at law'.

What you should know before you talk to a lawyer?

10 Things You Should Know Before Contacting a LawyerHave Your Documents Ready. ... Research the Elements of Your Case. ... Don't Call if You Just Have a Question. ... You May Not Speak to a Lawyer Right Away. ... Do Not Ask the Legal Support Staff for Advice. ... Don't Provide Too Much Information. ... Answer the Lawyer's Specific Questions.More items...•

What should you not say to a lawyer?

Five things not to say to a lawyer (if you want them to take you..."The Judge is biased against me" Is it possible that the Judge is "biased" against you? ... "Everyone is out to get me" ... "It's the principle that counts" ... "I don't have the money to pay you" ... Waiting until after the fact.

Why do lawyers ignore you?

If your attorney is not experienced or efficient, they may have missed a deadline or made another mistake and aren't willing to confess their error. There could also be some bad news that is entirely outside of the attorney's control.

How do you know if your lawyer is working for you?

Check your lawyer on legal sites such as Avvo or nolo, as well as on general sites like Google Places and Yelp! to see what other clients have to say. Search peer-review online databases such as martindale.com to see comments and opinions from other lawyers. 5. Get another lawyer's opinion.

What Should I Avoid When Looking for an Attorney?

When looking for an attorney, there are also some factors that you should avoid. These may include:

What Are Ethics Violations?

Ethics violations may occur when a lawyer’s conduct falls below the standards for the legal profession in their area of practice. For instance, a common ethics violation includes situations where the lawyer appropriates the client’s funds for their own use.

Should I Obtain a Lawyer for My Personal Injury Issue?

Personal injury claims generally require the assistance of an attorney who specializes in personal injury law. You may wish to hire a lawyer if you need help with tasks such as preparing documents, filing requests with a court, or representing you during trial.

How does LegalMatch work?

We've helped more than 5 million clients find the right lawyer – for free. Present your case online in minutes. LegalMatch matches you to pre-screened lawyers in your city or county based on the specifics of your case. Within 24 hours experienced local lawyers review it and evaluate if you have a solid case.

How does technology help lawyers?

Most clients have an expectation that you are using technology such as electronic invoicing systems that will help ensure that the work you do as a lawyer is accurate, effective, and timely. They are also expecting you to use technology that allows them to contact you in a variety of ways—via telephone, social media, and email. Having the basics of technological competence is a good way to make an impression. Even if you’re not currently skilled with all the latest gadgets, you only need to master a few to make a positive impact.

Why do clients overcommunicate?

One of the reasons that some clients “over-communicate” is that they are nervous and ill-informed about the process. Reduce communication panic in your clients by keeping them informed about what you’re doing in their case.

What is the report on changing law firm dynamics?

The report explores changing law firm dynamics and highlights any generational differences between younger lawyers and their more experienced counterparts. Download here for full findings.

Who is Jane Oxley?

Jane Oxley is President of Smokeball, a productivity and case management software provider that increases efficiency and profitability for solo attorneys and small law firms. Jane’s worked in the legal field for her entire career, spending over 20 years engaged with small law firms. She has a strong affinity with small law firms and the crucial role they play in the communities they serve and is passionate about helping them work towards more productive and less stressful practices.

Personality

Perhaps, after my opening musings, it is not surprising that personality is a key factor here.

Professional In Every Way

Another really important consideration when a client is looking for a law firm is to see that you are professional in every way from the moment that they first contact you until the moment that you complete their transaction.

Summary

These are the two main issues to tackle if you want to know what people are looking for in a law firm.

Why are hourly fees not the best value?

The lowest hourly fees may not indicate the best value in legal work because an inexperienced attorney may take twice as long to complete a project as an experienced one will. While there's no denying that lawyers are expensive, the good news is, there are more ways than ever to keep a lid on costs.

How much does an attorney charge per hour?

Attorneys charge anywhere from $50 to $1,000 or more per hour, depending on the location, size and prestige of the firm as well as the lawyer's reputation and experience. Shop around to get quotes from several firms before making a decision. However, beware of comparing one attorney with another on the basis of fees alone.

What does it mean when a lawyer speaks in legalese?

Ability to communicate. If the lawyer speaks in legalese and doesn't bother to explain the terms he or she uses, you should look for someone else.

Why is it important to lay the groundwork for a good partnership early?

Many entrepreneurs say their relationship with a lawyer is like a marriage -- it takes time to develop. That's why it's important to lay the groundwork for a good partnership early.

What to do before meeting with a lawyer?

Before you meet with or call your lawyer, have the necessary documents with you and know exactly what you want to discuss.

What to do if you think one method will work better than another?

If you think one method will work better for you than another, don't hesitate to bring it up with the attorney; many will offer flexible arrangements to meet your needs.

Should entrepreneurs consult with an attorney?

Some entrepreneurs wait until something goes wrong to consult with an attorney, but in today's litigious society, that isn't the smartest idea.

Personal recommendations are influential, but so is online research

Legal consumers tend not to rely on just one resource to research a potential lawyer. Instead, they use various resources simultaneously. In the survey of 6,300 survey respondents, 43 percent said they use referrals as part of the research process, while 43 percent also list Google searches.

Your website may have more sway than your advertising

More than a third (36 percent) of legal consumers in the Martindale-Avvo study reported using attorney websites as a resource compared to just 9 percent who said print advertising was a resource. Even fewer respondents — 5 percent — cited TV/radio advertising as a resource they used to find a lawyer.

A personal recommendation is often not enough

Consumers also vetted attorneys by checking online reviews. In the survey, 46 percent of legal consumers who received a referral to a lawyer said they checked the lawyer’s reviews before contacting them. If you have plenty of positive reviews online this statistic shouldn’t trouble you.

How to meet clients where they are

For law practices, these findings affirm common knowledge that consumers research everything online — including their lawyers. To give your practice a fighting chance, survey your online presence periodically.

What do legal consumers want?

Times have changed. Today, legal consumers bring new energy and perspective to shopping for legal services. They understand that they have alternatives to traditional law firms and they are using them. Clients want efficiency and they want a meaningful client experience.

Why do clients need comfort?

Creating a system helps them and you. Comforted clients have better attention spans and process information faster, which makes your job easier.

Why do lawyers want to build a relationship?

They believe that when they are professional, logical, and offer good advice (and resolve the matter) that they have provided the elements of a good relationship.

What do clients want from a lawyer?

Perhaps what clients want most from their lawyer is connection. That’s a scary word, I know. Simply put, clients want to be in a relationship with you. Connection is part of our survival instinct.

What is the emotion of a client when they have a legal problem?

Clients face a range of emotions, primarily negative ones , when they have a legal problem.

What did the blind men think of the elephant?

Three of them decided to explore what an elephant was all about, then share it with the others. One man touched the tail and thought, an elephant is like a snake. Another man ran into the elephant’s broadside and said, an elephant is like a high wall.

What is the future of law?

The future of law belongs to firms that are willing to let go of old notions of service and embrace the new ways of lawyering. Now is a good time to assess and refresh your law firm systems to ensure you have the infrastructure to become more client-centric.