Let me start by mentioning that doing your own legal work has its limitations. You can certainly create contracts on your own, endure gruelling client negotiations, and resolve a marital conflict amicably, but if you ever need to appear in court, you must hire a lawyer. There will be costs involved, professional fees must be paid, and the often drawn-out procedure must be endured. The costs of correcting a problem are typically much higher than the costs of preventing the problem. As they say, prevention is always preferable to treatment. So choose a decent Rechtsanwalt Wels to hire.
Qualifications
A person who has received legal training can “practise law” by providing for the legal requirements of another person by using legal knowledge and concepts. However, by this definition, a paralegal or even a secretary with legal knowledge who has been “trained” just by working in a law office for a while is seen as engaging in the practise of law. So, while seeking legal counsel, seek out a “qualified” attorney. Make sure your lawyer has completed his legal education, passed the bar test, and obtained a licence to practise law in the jurisdiction where the requested legal relief is sought. The last thing you need while involved in a legal battle is a phoney attorney. Asking for a lawyer’s licence before disclosing any of your most private information to them is entirely ethical. But often, they’d hang their credentials on the wall.
Expertise
Every good attorney has a certain area of competence. He could be an authority on any one of the following areas of law: criminal law, civil law, labour law, tax law, or international law. These are the main divisions. A litigation lawyer or an immigration lawyer are two examples of such professionals. But keep in mind that specialities in law are “earned” through experience, not just because lawyers believe they are excellent at it.
Individual traits
A young, inexperienced lawyer may actually outperform an experienced one in this area of law. Young attorneys are typically enthusiastic, helpful, and understanding. They frequently treat their customers like little toddlers. Even the small, inconsequential details are taken care of. But this is precisely how paying customers expect to be handled. Customers frequently believe they are receiving value for their money given the level of attention they are receiving.
The personality traits you should seek for in a lawyer will mostly rely on the type of client you are. If you like things to be straightforward, you might choose to work with an older, retired lawyer. Lawyers of this type are less attentive to what you have to say. They occasionally don’t even listen to what they have to say. Like brushing their teeth in the morning, law has become a routine for them. However, they have exemplary experience. If you hire them, your chances of winning your case are very good because their techniques have been tried and true.
Credibility
A lawyer’s credibility might be judged in a variety of situations. It might imply that one has a good reputation. It might be based on charisma and recommendations from previous happy clients. It can be ruined by the lawyer themselves, for example when he provides legal counsel and then contradicts his own legal judgement without mitigating the consequences. Undoubtedly, a lawyer who lacks credibility and reliability would never be able to attract customers.
Availability
So now you have a lawyer who meets your criteria for a qualified, knowledgeable, and trustworthy individual. The lawyer’s availability to handle your issue is the next thing to think about. Most of the time, your attorney will declare that he is ready, able, and delighted to help you. As you can see, he said the same thing to a number of other people this morning, as well as last week and the week before. The idea is that a lawyer has certain limitations. He cannot be present at many hearings at once. To make ends meet, he would likely resort to postponing or cancelling hearings and crucial appointments. If the attorney you’ve picked is part of a law firm, other attorneys will undoubtedly be able to represent you if he is unavailable. You will find this acceptable once your case has been transferred to a different hand, though.
Professionalism
Having a lawyer who can “look” professional is very different from having a “professional” lawyer. Lawyering is allegedly 80% representation. When you first meet your client, the representation officially begins. A lawyer typically has the “legal look”—they are well-groomed, drive a black luxury automobile, and carry a suit case. But professionalism is not what is meant by it. Being professional involves attending to your needs, conducting research, meeting deadlines, and returning your calls. So don’t let the lawyer appearance deceive you. Though it would be fantastic if your attorney could pull it off with the lawyer look and sincere professionalism.
