I have practiced law for almost 20 years. During that time I have observed many lawyers whom I admired and many I did not. In light of this experience, I have given considerable thought to the qualities I would look for in an attorney were I to need to engage one.
First and foremost, he or she would be someone I could trust. My attorney would earn that trust by demonstrating a commitment to me and my interests that would not be compromised by his or her own greed, ego or competitive instincts, or his or her desire to be liked or respected by me or members of the profession.
The attorney would further demonstrate trustworthiness through his or her billing. His billing practices would be forthright and honest and would represent a fair reflection of the value delivered. Most importantly, I could give him or her a free rein and trust that he or she would operate in a manner that would be most cost-effective to me.
He or she could stand his or her ground while advocating an unpopular course of action, but would also respect my right to make decisions for myself. He or she should also help me make good decisions on complicated matters by articulating clearly and simply both the relevant law as well as the consequences of various courses of action.
He or she would define the quality of his or her work by results that are important to me, as defined by me, not by the internal standards of the profession. Finally, he or she would possess superb negotiating skills as well as a firm grasp of the law in the relevant subject matter.
Lawyers have acquired a bad reputation of late, perhaps deservedly so, and the services of a lawyer do not come cheaply. However, there are still lawyers who ascribe to the standards I would seek. If you can find one, they are well worth the fees that they charge.
Larry DeVries is the managing principal of DeVries and Associates. He specializes in representing small and middle market businesses. (If you have any comments or questions regarding this article, please feel free to contact the author at ljdevries@devries-lawfirm.com).
