By Fred Reilly, American Attorney and English Solicitor

Hiring an attorney is a very important decision. You may have heard all the horror stories about hiring an attorney, but it doesn’t mean that you’re destined to become one. Before you retain legal counsel, consider the following points.

  1. Objective Advice. Will the attorney provide sound, objective advice? In order to render valuable, results-oriented advice, an attorney must first listen to the client, understand their goals and craft strategies that will result in the client’s success. How can an attorney (or anyone for that matter) provide a viable solution to your problem unless they first understand it?
  2. Experience. Does the attorney possess the necessary experience and judgment to be effective in addressing your legal problem? Or does the attorney lack the knowledge, skills and seasoning necessary to handle your legal problem in an effective manner? Experience is invaluable when negotiating the terms of complex transactions, drafting precise legal documents and fashioning strategies for resolving acrimonious disputes.
  3. Credentials. What are the attorney’s credentials? Has the attorney been trained to address the legal issues, negotiation strategies and unexpected complications that will arise? For example, not all American attorneys possess the educational background or professional qualifications necessary to advise clients on international business transactions or disputes. I received my Masters degree in International Business Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science. To better serve my international clients, I became a member of The Law Society. As an English Solicitor, I am very familiar with the legal issues that arise in international business law transactions and disputes.
  4. Independent Advice. One of the foundations of an attorney-client relationship is the ethical obligation to provide clients with independent advice. Is the attorney committed to providing you with independent advice? Are there any potential conflicts of interest that may complicate the attorney’s ability to advise you in an independent manner?
  5. Integrity. Is the attorney committed to representing the client in an ethical manner? Will the attorney treat the client and others with dignity and respect?
  6. Work. Who will actually do the work on your case? Does the attorney himself – or a qualified associate – perform the legal services? Or does a partner bring in the client, then delegate the actual work to a junior associate and bill you at the partner’s higher hourly fee?
  7. Access. How available is the attorney when you need to contact him? Can the attorney be reached by telephone, fax and email? Since I work with international clients, I use the leading low-cost internet-based technology (www.skype.com) to communicate with clients instead of expensive conventional international telecommunications (which are typically billed to the client). In addition, I use an email-enabled Blackberry to maintain accessibility.
  8. Enthusiasm. Is the attorney enthusiastic about providing legal services to solve your problem or does your case represent just another paycheck?
  9. Attention. Is the attorney so busy working on a multitude of cases that he’s simply unable to provide individuals with the personal service and care they deserve? Or does the attorney limit his services to a few select clients who receive the best service that he can offer?
  10. Technologically Savvy. Does the attorney have the technical capability to conduct business in the Internet Age?
  11. Efficiency. One of the maxims of the law is “Justice delayed is justice denied.” Inefficiency inevitably results in increased legal fees and expenses. Is the attorney committed to handling the client’s legal problem or dispute in an efficient manner that is mindful of the client’s expenditures of time, effort and money?
  12. Fees and Expenses. Will the attorney charge the client fees and expenses in a straight-forward, fair manner? We’ve all heard horror stories about runaway attorney fees. Suffice it to say that I do not believe in charging clients for every paper clip.
  13. Results-oriented. I have been a practicing attorney for more than 20 years. I’ve always viewed my role as attorney in the same light – maximize the client’s opportunities while seeking to minimize the client’s risks. I do not believe in complicating a client’s legal problem or dispute in order to charge additional legal fees. When I accept a client’s case, my objective is to help the client solve their problem. Period.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Fred Reilly’s law practice includes advising clients on international business transactions, corporations, contractual issues, real estate transactions, civil litigation and administrative proceedings.

Fred has been an attorney for more than 20 years. He is licensed to practice law in California, District of Columbia, Florida and as an English Solicitor. He has been admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and the United States Court of International Trade. Fred graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LL.M. in International Business Law), Cumberland School of Law at Samford University (J.D. and Associate Editor of The Cumberland Law Review) and Purdue University (B.S. in Management). Fred spends time each month in Los Angeles and Central Florida. He is a member of The Beverly Hills Bar Association.

DISCLAIMER: This article and its content are intended to provide general information on legal topics and shall not serve as a solicitation for services in any jurisdiction where prohibited by law. This article is not, nor is it intended to be used as a substitute for legal advice. You should consult an attorney for individual advice concerning your own situation. Sending an email to the owner of this website, and receiving any response thereto, does not, in and of itself, create an attorney-client relationship.

© Copyright 2007 by Fred Reilly. All rights reserved.