The Traits A Civil Attorney Should Bring To The Table

A civil attorney must bring certain traits to the table in order to be an effective representative. If you can finish law school and get a job with a firm, you can start taking clients. But if you're looking for a good lawyer, you're going to want a little more than that before you agree to hire someone. Taking an adversary to court is a waste of time, energy, and money if you don't have a legal representative that will do everything they can to win. Certainly, even hiring the best lawyer in the country is no guarantee of success. But if you look for a few specialized traits, you'll stand a much better chance of victory.

Confidence

Don't hire a civil attorney who looks as though he would rather fight a lion with his bare hands than go to court with your case. You're probably uncertain yourself about your chances of victory. If you can't even inspire confidence in someone you're paying, should you really be going forward? Maybe. But maybe you should consider finding someone else to take the case. On the other hand, it's easy for confidence to swing over into arrogance, and you don't want that, either. You simply want someone who is excited about your case, positive about your chances, and is willing to work hard to see it to the end.

Honesty

Honesty is probably not the first trait that comes to mind when you think of a civil attorney. But lawyers have an unfair reputation for being liars and cheats in this country, due largely to high profile, wacky cases and Hollywood. In truth, there are just as many honest lawyers as there are honest doctors. But what you're looking for isn't necessarily someone who will be honest in court, but someone who will be honest with you. This is why it's usually a good idea to find a lawyer who works on contingency. When they don't get paid unless they win a settlement, they have no choice but to be honest about your chances.

Negotiator

While this goes against popular perception, most civil cases never see the inside of a courtroom. Most cases are settled, either directly between the lawyers or in some form of mediation. Since this is the case, you need an attorney who is as good with smooth negotiation as he is delivering an opening statement or questioning witnesses. In fact, it's probably the most important trait to look for when hiring a lawyer. Make sure they can hold their own before you hire them.

By: Andrew Stratton

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