Employlaw.com - About Attorneys

Generally, if your attorney is providing "good service," he or she is most likely doing a good job on your case.* However:

The courts, laws, facts, and varied strategies related to prosecuting or defending a case are numerous and complex. This being so, a client is pretty much left in the dark on figuring out whether or not an attorney is doing a good job on the case.

Additionally, you must realize, especially in law, that there is more than one way to "dot the i" and "cross the t." Excepting the family consigliere, ask ten lawyers whether a letter should be sent, a phone call made, a paper filed, or witness deposed and you will get ten different answers on what to do.

Moreover, if a case makes it to trial, uncertainties and unpredictability are created by the attitude and competence of the judge, the court's pretrial rulings, the makeup of the jury, evidence that actually gets in, proof problems, witness cooperation, etc., etc. So at the end of the day, it's near impossible to determine or "grade," if you will, an attorney's performance on a case.

While we can't provide you with a precise list of things to look for to determine if you have a good attorney [defined as one providing highly competent legal services], the common thread in the better attorneys is that they consistently provide good "service" to their clients. The crappy, bonehead, and cheesy lawyers tend to treat the client poorly. Therefore here is:

MORTIMER'S TOP TEN WAYS TO DETERMINE
IF YOUR ATTORNEY IS A GOOD ONE

The attorney treats you with respect and is never condescending toward you.

The attorney does not treat you as if you are a nuisance.

You call your attorney and he or she takes your call, or calls you back the same day. Your attorney talks to you after office hours and on weekends.

The attorney keeps you updated on major developments in your case.

The attorney takes time to explain matters in terms you understand.

The attorney explains your options and makes it clear that you are the decision maker.

The attorney explains estimated major costs and fees in a case, before you become obligated to pay them.

The attorney is a specialist and keeps up with the latest developments in his or her field.

The attorney consistently maintains a sharp and commanding appearance.

You call your attorney during the lunch hour and he or she is in the office to take your call [because the attorney believes lunch is for wimps.]

The attorney never appears or sounds frazzled, overworked, or constantly rushed.

The attorney does not say "sorry, we are not taking any new cases" on hearing your case will be litigated in federal court.**

INDEX | HOME PAGE

* Our list and this page do not apply to those lawyers who are a disgrace to the profession, specifically, attorneys who are incompetent [meaning stupid], greedy, lazy, thieves, liars, or unethical. Unfortunately, it is difficult to detect lawyers tainted with these traits until AFTER you have become their victim. If your attorney fails to satisfy most of the ideals listed, consider such a "red flag" and commence thinking about your options [e.g., finding another attorney]. If nothing else, at least keep a suspicious eye on him or her.

**If you noticed that this is a "'Top Ten" list, but there are 11 items, perhaps you should be a lawyer [or maybe even an appellate justice]. Before you inflate your ego, ask yourself, "How did I have time to notice that? My high school classmates were right, I was the class nerd. The pain..... the horror...."