What Do I Need to Know About the Hiring Process for Lawyers?

The wrong lawyer can sink your case. That's one of the biggest reasons why the founder of Morgan & Morgan went into practicing law in the first place. His own struggle came from working with the wrong lawyer and cost his family big when his brother was injured on the job. That single experience made him vow to be a lawyer for the people and fight big companies and big insurance companies for what is right for his clients. Here are the qualities he’s learned exceptional lawyers possess.

Outstanding communication skills

Suppose you're having trouble understanding what a lawyer is trying to tell you during the hiring process. How will this lawyer be able to argue your case effectively? Outstanding communication skills are critical when it comes to any kind of litigation. And, just like how they need to be able to communicate with a layperson such as yourself, they will likely have to communicate with a jury full of laypersons.

A lawyer needs to be articulate, persuasive, and a good listener. Good listening skills will be imperative when they have to analyze a conversation, testimony, or witness statement. 

Research and analytical skills 

A considerable part of a lawyer's job is to be able to study and absorb information swiftly and on the fly, especially in the courtroom. They should be able to pivot quickly should the defendant's lawyer come up with an unexpected argument. While some cases take longer and thus allow your lawyer more time to digest all of the information pertaining to your case, some cases move fast. Your lawyer needs to have the ability to research and absorb lots of information efficiently to build a stronger case for you.

Strong analytical skills will enable your lawyer to evaluate different possible conclusions and make adjustments to their arguments to make sure the best possible conclusion is made in your case. 

Ethics

With so many lawyers practicing law, it's a reasonable conclusion to assume not all are operating under the constraints of good ethics and morals. Some cases may make you question your own ethics, so hiring a lawyer whose beliefs align with your own is helpful. Working with a lawyer whose values are similar to yours will make it easier for both of you. Working with a dishonest lawyer can have severe repercussions. 

Lawyers are not allowed to lie to judges, courts, clients, and third parties. However, that doesn't preclude them from using some trickery, but there is undoubtedly a fine line. When in doubt, trust your gut when it comes to matters of ethics.

Empathy  

Working with a lawyer that is empathetic is essential for a good client-attorney relationship. Look for signs that they are interested in your individual case, not just winning for the sake of winning. Part of a lawyer's job is to look at facts and evidence through an impartial lens. The reason being is when they look at your case from that angle, they can see potential flaws in the solidness of your case and address them before the case gets picked apart by the defense. 

However, they have to counter impartiality with empathy to ensure that the people involved feel like they are being represented by someone who has an emotional investment in the case, too. If you, as a client, feel like your emotional needs can't be met with a lawyer, give them a pass and move on to the next.

Determination

When it comes to working with a lawyer, you want to be assured that when things get tough, they'll keep going. Commitment is critical, particularly if your case should need to go to trial. Surprisingly, many lawyers shy away from the courtroom because it's easier to settle out of court. But sometimes, taking a case to trial is the best option if the defendant or their insurance company refuses to play ball. Conversely, some types of claims are settled out of court routinely, and the courts expect that every avenue of negotiations has been exhausted prior to going to trial. Should you need a trial-ready lawyer, Morgan & Morgan has over 1,000 of them.

People skills

Have you heard the old adage, "you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar?" Well, that saying makes a lot of sense when you're talking about your lawyer's people skills. If your lawyer is rude, presumptive, or dismissive, this can be a genuine turn-off, especially for a jury. While a jury isn't supposed to judge a lawyer's personality, it's hard to disregard distaste for an individual. At the end of the day, lawyers have to communicate with a lot of different parties when it comes to handling your claim or lawsuit. Outstanding people skills are a quality that can go a long way towards a favorable outcome.

Vision

Some of the best lawyers have an outstanding sense of vision and creativity when it comes to their cases. Thinking outside of the box is necessary many times, and using a lawyer that lacks problem-solving skills will be detrimental for your case. Lawyers need to use creativity when it comes to presenting strong arguments and supplying case law to back it up.

While many people hesitate to reach out to a lawyer because of money concerns, many lawyers will take your case based on a contingency fee arrangement. A contingency fee arrangement means the lawyer gets paid a percentage of the compensation you're awarded. This works out well since the lawyer doesn't collect unless your case is settled or won. However, this typically depends on the type of claim or lawsuit you have. Personal injury lawyers almost always work on a contingency fee basis. Furthermore, contingency fee arrangements provide your lawyer with an incentive to make sure you get the highest amount possible for your claim. 

The downside is that you need to have a valid claim. Lawyers will evaluate all the evidence and circumstances of your case so they can judge if they think you have a good shot at gaining compensation. If they don't think you have a strong case, likely they won't take you on as a client. However, it never hurts to check. A clever lawyer may be able to see something you don't or be aware of case law that can help.

An excellent lawyer will first listen to the details of your case. That's the first step. It's unlikely to expect them to come up with answers right away. Instead, they will take the time to pour over documentation, absorb, and analyze. Then, you should expect them to present you with options concerning your legal matter and discuss strategy. They should also provide a timeline for important events. However, an accurate timeline can be a moving target because it all depends on the pleasure of the courts and also other parties involved. 

As outlined previously, you should expect prompt responses to your phone calls and emails. While a busy trial lawyer may not have much free time, their staff should be able to keep you abreast on anything concerning your case. That's an important reason to hire a lawyer with a strong support system and sizable legal staff. You don't want to be left waiting with questions unanswered because you chose to hire a lawyer working at a small law firm. 

Hopefully, we've helped you with understanding the hiring process for lawyers. Now we'll talk a bit about why a Morgan & Morgan attorney would be the best fit for your legal matter. 

Our track record speaks for itself: We get that a lot of lawyers talk about their successes, but there really isn't a comparison when you consider our law firm has been around for over 30 years. During that time we've recovered billions for our clients. Because we have so many successful cases, we've grown to be one of the largest law firms in the US, with over 1,000 attorneys and thousands of support staff.

One thing that is a by-product of success is notoriety, especially with insurance companies. While they respect us, they also understand we don't mess around to make sure our clients get the best possible compensation. Insurance companies know we won't hesitate to take our clients' cases to court. When that happens, they have a good chance of losing because we don't take cases that lack merit. With that understanding, insurance companies frequently come back with settlement offers that are actually fair, making the process much smoother and quicker than, say, a smaller, unknown law firm.

We are family-owned and always will be: As stated earlier, one of the reasons John Morgan became a lawyer is because his own brother was paralyzed from an accident on the job at Disney World. His family's lawyer wasn't up to snuff, and the family suffered. John vowed to be a lawyer who fights against powerful corporations representing everyday people just like yourself. And what progress he has made! Now, our law firm includes John's wife and their three sons amongst the hundreds of other successful attorneys we have. 

When you're ready to hire a lawyer, remember there is only one Morgan & Morgan, and we'd be proud to help you with your legal matter. Contact us today for a free, confidential case evaluation. Everybody needs a helping hand from time to time, and we're here to make a difference.