The decision to hire a lawyer is a very important decision. There are a lot of smart, competent lawyers out there, but that doesn’t mean they are all a fit for you. Certainly, finding a lawyer who is sharp, and will advocate for you and make smart strategy decisions in your case is important. That said, it is also important to find a lawyer that is a good personality fit for you. There are a few things to consider when deciding who you want on your team.
One of the most important qualities to consider is your lawyer’s way of communicating with you and your loved ones. There is not necessarily a good or bad communication style; however, you want to make sure your communication style is not at odds with your attorney’s style. For example, some attorneys are much more comfortable with emails and prefer to have their conversations documented. If you prefer to talk on the phone or meet in person, that is something you want to make sure your attorney can accommodate. Alternatively, if communication via email fits your busy lifestyle better than in person meetings, you will want to make sure you have an attorney who is comfortable with email and responsive. Similarly, having a similar way can be helpful as well. If you are someone who wants to know the legal nuances and details behind the strategy, make sure you hire an attorney who will take the time and care to explain.
It is also important to have a lawyer who can get creative with strategy. Creativity may not be one of the qualities that comes to mind when you think about lawyers, but you will notice a remarkable difference when you have a lawyer who is creative. As rigid as the legal system may seem at times, the legal system is full of empathic people who genuinely want to make society better. Having a lawyer who can understand the perspective of and cooperate with judges, opposing counsel, law enforcement, etc. will make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. The reality is that not every case will result in a dismissal – so it is important to have a lawyer who can get creative with solutions that fit the client’s individual concerns and needs.
It may seem counterintuitive, but you also want a lawyer who is honest – particularly with you. Everyone wants to hear good news, and we tend to like those who give us good news – but when your freedom is at stake, you want a lawyer who will give you the hard truths. Every case has its strengths and weaknesses, and it is important to have a lawyer who is honest with himself or herself about those strengths and weaknesses, and importantly, honest with you about areas in need of improvement or explanation. Although it may be tempting to have a lawyer who shares your fervor in fighting your case, having a lawyer who takes a balanced approach to your defense is invaluable. You need to have counsel that is not so worried about undermining their relationship with you that they avoid hard conversations.
At Chastaine Jones, we pride ourselves on being the kind of attorneys we would want to hire, with the qualities we would want in our lawyer.