Not all criminal lawyers are good and qualified for the tasks ahead of them. Some of them handle too many cases at once, others charge fees that are too high and others do not see eye to eye with their clients. As a potential client, know what you are getting involved into from the start. Whether you are going through a trial or an investigation, you need a lawyer with advanced skills. There are three major qualities you should look for in your defence lawyer.
Communication
You want a criminal defence lawyer who has shown advanced communication skills. A lawyer is a negotiator who uses persuasive words to get people on his side. He has to cross-examine witnesses by asking the right questions and prying information out of people. He must have very advanced communication and public speaking skills.
Familiarize yourself with a lawyer’s communication skills at the initial consultation. Note how well he speaks and how he promotes his body language. You want to ask a question and receive a detailed explanation that does not leave you confused.
Also, note how quickly the lawyer returns your calls and emails. Too many lawyers are too busy trying to contact their clients and discuss matters over the phone. Your lawyer must have the time for you. If your current lawyer does not like talking to you, you must look elsewhere. There are plenty of other criminal law firms in Perth that have less occupied lawyers.
Ethics
A lawyer of any kind is expected to be ethical. You cannot expect someone to preach ethics if he is not doing the right thing himself. There are ethical laws that every defence lawyer must follow.
First, he must show loyalty to his client. He cannot appear hypocritical by representing different types of clients at the same time. He cannot leap to the opposing side at any time. He has to stay with the client until the case ends.
If a lawyer does not follow these ethical rules, he can be punished by a discipline agency. He may receive a fine or license suspension. You want a lawyer who only works within the laws.
Competence
A lawyer is not guaranteed to be competent. Even if a lawyer passes the bar exam, it does not mean that he did not cheat through law school. Competence is not found in all lawyers, and the incompetent ones are likely to handle your case.
If you complain, you are not likely to receive much attention simply because you have a bad lawyer. However, if the lawyer causes damages to you, you could file a malpractice suit. So, check the level of competency that comes with every lawyer in the industry.
Many criminal lawyers have good qualities that exceed the bad ones. However, you cannot assume they are all good and qualified to do the work. You need a lawyer who can handle the main duties from the case preparation to the trial negotiations. Look for the few, good qualities that make a qualified defence lawyer.
