The United States has over a million practicing lawyers. The courts in the country handle an incredible 64 million cases a year.
Two-thirds of Americans today face some legal issue over the course of their lives. The most common lawsuits include contractual lawsuits, personal injury claims, and divorce petitions, among others.
It’s clear that hiring legal counsel can be beneficial, especially in a situation when you’re hit by an allegation of a crime you did not commit. Experienced legal professionals, like Steamboat Springs criminal defense lawyers, provide the expertise and services needed to tackle the allegations with expertise and privacy.
6 qualities of top lawyers you should know
Being a pro at any job requires a specific skill set, and lawyers are no exception to this. The best lawyers in the country have a wide array of skills, ranging from interpersonal skills like empathy to job-specific skills like research.
It’s important to keep the 6 qualities listed below when you hire a lawyer.
Integrity
Integrity is “the quality of being honest and having strong principles.” As a lawyer, this refers to a broad range of behaviors, from following the code of conduct set by The Bar to maintaining client confidentiality.
To begin with, lawyers should be fair in their dealings with others and ensure that they don’t engage in or promote unethical practices like bribery or blackmail. Engaging in unscrupulous behavior could lead to disciplinary action by a judge.
Lawyers are bound by the law to maintain attorney-client privilege. This means that they cannot disclose any private information about a client and can be sued if they violate this law.
Expertise
A capable lawyer will have extensive knowledge of the law, or at least their particular area of practice. A lawyer’s expertise is essential to winning a case. Their experience is a good indication of how good they are.
The top lawyers also know that, in order to remain relevant, they have to stay updated on the latest rulings and trends in their field of practice.
Confidence
Confidence is a key quality that every top lawyer possesses. It is the quality of being sure of one’s abilities. In order for a lawyer to succeed, they have to be confident about themselves. Otherwise, they can make sloppy mistakes that could cost them a case.
Confident lawyers will be sure of their knowledge of a case and be able to direct a client with clarity on how to proceed with a case. Confident lawyers will be able to defend their case without wavering against the arguments of the opposing party.
Resourcefulness
It might seem like all lawyers have to do is memorize a bunch of laws, and they’re done. But dealing with a case, be it criminal defense or personal injury, is not as simple as reciting a bunch of lines. Lawyers often have to find creative ways to ensure their clients get what they need.
For example, when faced with a mountain of data that they have to sift through, they can enlist the help of a smart programmer in their firm to find the information they need instead of manually sifting through the data.
Lawyers are often faced with a ton of paperwork and very tight deadlines, so they have to be resourceful in finding the information they need. Resourcefulness is a quality that all the best lawyers in the country possess.
Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand another person’s feelings and see their point of view. Empathy is a critical skill for a lawyer to have, as their work is primarily done around people. Failing to understand what a client needs could lead to badly handled lawsuits.
An empathetic lawyer makes their clients feel understood, which leads to their clients feeling satisfied. Empathy also fosters a good relationship with everyone the lawyer interacts with, enabling their work to run smoothly.
Persistence
The law can often get complex, and there can be many hurdles along the way. Successful lawyers have to be persistent to be able to deal with obstacles like limited time, a ton of data to sift through, tough negotiations with insurance providers, etc.
The top lawyers are persistent and don’t give up until they reach their goal. If a lawyer is persistent and doesn’t give up easily, they could find a creative solution to their problem. Lawyers also have to be persistent during negotiations with other parties, as these situations can get pretty competitive. Without persistence, a lawyer cannot win their case.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a lawyer’s services are essential to most Americans today. Hiring the right legal counsel is the difference between winning or losing a case. While a competent lawyer will possess a myriad of skills, the essential ones you should look for include integrity, confidence, empathy, expertise, resourcefulness, and persistence.
