How do you know you're getting the right lawyer?
Choosing the right lawyer is a crucial decision, and several factors should guide your choice. Their expertise should align with your specific legal needs, whether in migration, family law, or another area.
Comfort and a good personal rapport are essential, as is selecting a lawyer familiar with local laws and regulations.
Specialisation Matters
Verify a lawyer's qualifications and specialisation in relevant legal areas, like migration or family law, to ensure they are well-suited for your case.
time and Attention on your side
Discuss your urgency and communication preferences with a lawyer to ensure they can provide timely updates and consistent attention to your case.
Fees structures and Total Costs
Understand the lawyer's fee structure, including hourly rates or fixed fees, and establish a clear agreement on total costs, especially if you're facing financial hardship.
Hiring the most suitable lawyer, whether to seek consultation from or to entrust your case with, is one of the most worthy decisions you will make. The first step is usually to rationalise how big or small your matter is before concluding for legal advice. Ask yourself if you have a legal issue you cannot resolve on your own.
Choosing a lawyer with only credibility in mind is like aiming for a target afar without paying attention to nearby hurdles. Factors such as costing, location, professionalism and such are as important as their reputation.
Things to consider before hiring a lawyer:
1. Qualification
The baseline yet one of the crucial factors in selecting your lawyer is their overall educational background and obligation to practice. Did they come from a reputable law university? Did they undergo the right step by step process to get the license? Is your lawyer committed enough in upgrading their skills set through earning Continuing Professional Development (CPD)? Make sure that your lawyer has all the necessary licenses and permits necessary to work or operate in a business setting.
3. Availability
Determine the urgency of your matter and be transparent about your needs to have constant updates and advice from the lawyer. Would it be possible for the lawyer to start working on your case immediately? Do they have a heavy workload and caseload? Are they able to attend to you consistently? Be transparent and be vocal about how you like the communication and its frequency to happen between you and the lawyer. Let the lawyers know your availability and ask for the best time to ask for an update from them in return. A good and professional lawyer fulfill their obligation to take their time attending to the concern of the client and offer you a variety of legal advice.
2. Expertise on Law
Generally, lawyers often have their own specialisation. You might want to consider opting for a Migration Lawyer who has been recognised for their excellency if you are planning to migrate, or to a Family Lawyer who has an in-depth experience with practical arrangements if you have a similar case in your family. It is important to know their expertise for you to know if a lawyer can provide you with good legal advice while protecting your best interest. Do not be intimidated by asking them their history of experiences and their educational background. Checking their expertise on the website is a good option for verifying their competitiveness in relation to your own individual situation.
4. Costing
Law firms in Australia have varying ways to charge their clients. Some do hourly rates, fixed rates, or open for a negotiable fee. Ask yourself how much you are willing to spend. If you are dealing with financial hardship you may want to ask if the law firm offers payment arrangement plan, such as what we do at Gabito Lawyers. Clients will have to pay professional services and third party fees more often than not regardless of getting or not the desired outcome. So establish a clear fee structure and clarify the total cost to be involved through a written copy of agreement.
Key factors in choosing a lawyer: qualifications, expertise, availability, and cost. Consider these to make an informed decision.
Ensure comfort and location are right for you when hiring a lawyer. Check their background, fees, and compatibility with your needs.
5. Comfortability
Remember that your legal concern is valid and reasonable no matter how it impacts your life both in the short and long run. Find a lawyer with a good personality and character so you can easily build a friendly association while working in the case hand in hand. Your lawyer is representing you, and you might want to look for a lawyer you are most comfortable telling the truth to and raising your concerns. In the same manner, a law firm with a good charitable cause usually speaks for its compassion and social contribution.
7. Should you look for a lawyer? A barrister? A solicitor?
A barrister represents people in the court and in tribunal for defence. A solicitor on the other hand pertains to a lawyer who has earned credentials on Practical Legal Training and admitted to practice legally. They generally advice the clients on legal matters and instructs the barrister during complex works.
A lawyer recommends the courses of action to their clients and advises them with their legal rights and obligations, acting as an adviser.
6. Location
Different places have different applicable laws. If you want to look for the best lawyer in Adelaide, bear in mind that the lawyer should be up to date as well with the state’s provisions and requirements as well as on its legal requirements in the locality of business operation
How can Gabito Laywers help you?
Gabito Lawyers comprises a team of lawyers, barristers and solicitors. We can represent you in court matters and provide you legal advice in matters of family law, employment, wills and estates, immigration and citizenship and general commercial law.
