We all know that the legal system can be confusing, especially when it comes to lawsuits. It’s important to hire a lawyer who is experienced in your particular type of case, but there are also other qualities that make a litigation lawyer successful in their career.
While there is no one way to be a good litigator, there are certain qualities that will make them more likely to win your case and get you the results you need.
The need for a qualified lawyer becomes even more prominent in states like Washington that have various levels of complex regulations pertaining to constitutional, statutory, regulatory, and local ordinances.
If you live in the state and are looking for a federal litigation lawyer in Washington, DC, then you might have to spend quite a lot of money to hire one. These litigation lawyers are experts in the legal system and can handle cases involving a dispute between two parties.
Let’s now look at the top qualities that you should consider while hiring a litigation lawyer.
A Commanding Presence
In a court of law, commanding a presence is essential. The person who commands the most presence in the room has control over the situation, and that’s why it can be one of the top qualities to look for in a litigation lawyer.
One way a commanding presence manifests itself is through how much control over the conversation they have. The best litigators are able to control conversations by keeping them focused on their own ideas and opinions while they interrupt or redirect their opponents’ efforts at steering things back toward their own points of view.
Someone who knows how to command a courtroom has mastered these skills because they’ve had years of experience practicing them in front of juries, judges, clients, and opposing attorneys alike.
There are roughly 1.3 million lawyers in the US, according to the American Bar Association. In other words, there are barely four lawyers for every 1,000 citizens. This means you would have to do thorough research before hiring a lawyer and make sure the final selection aligns with your particular context and needs.
Experience and Client Testimonials
When you’re looking for a litigation lawyer, you want to know that they have a good amount of experience and a proven track record of success.
Experience is one of the most important qualities to look for in a litigation lawyer. A law firm’s success rate is often directly proportional to the number of experienced lawyers.
The second quality you should look for in a litigation lawyer is client testimonials. Client testimonials are written statements and online reviews from previous clients about how satisfied they were with the services rendered by their attorney, along with any compliments or complaints about the service provided by their attorney during the process of resolving their case.
The more positive client comments you see on your potential lawyer’s website or social media pages, the more likely it is that they will do right by you as well, and if they don’t have any positive reviews at all, maybe they aren’t worth your time.
The positive experiences that law firms offer will also have an impact on reviews and referrals, which are sought after by 82% and 81% of consumers, respectively, according to the 2021 Legal Trends Report. Any one of the aforementioned variables might have an impact on a positive experience.
Affordability and Reliability
If you are a small business owner or an individual who is facing a lawsuit, then you need to hire a lawyer who will work within your budget. A good litigation attorney should be able to advise you on how much money you can spend on legal defense and what kind of help is available from pro bono services.
The best thing about hiring a lawyer with this quality is that they will always be honest with you about their fees so that there is no room for misunderstandings later on when it comes to payment.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a lawyer earns an average of $61.54 per hour in the US. Before hiring a lawyer, make sure to ask them about their fees as well – it’s important to compare options so that you can find an affordable lawyer within your budget.
Another important quality to look for in a litigation attorney is reliability, which means that they will always be there for you if you need them. If there is ever an emergency situation where your case needs urgent attention, then they will make all efforts to attend to it as soon as possible, regardless of whether they are working on another client’s case.
This also applies when it comes time for court proceedings. If your lawyer has given you their word, then you can rest assured that they will do everything within their power to ensure that justice is served upon those who have wronged you in some way or another.
Summing Up
If you’re looking for a litigation lawyer, it’s important to keep these qualities in mind. A good litigation lawyer will be someone that is honest, has integrity, and is capable of working well with others. They should also have a thorough understanding of the law and be able to communicate clearly.
If you are considering hiring a litigation lawyer, look for one who demonstrates these qualities and make sure that they understand your specific case before agreeing to work with them.
