Feeling frantic isn’t unusual when you’re involved in a dispute brought to court. The litigation process can be intimidating whether you’re a defendant or a claimant. With this, you’ll need the expertise of a litigation lawyer to protect your legal rights and present and argue your side of the argument to maximize your chances of getting a favorable outcome.
Thus, finding the right litigation lawyer to guide you through the process is vital. In this article, you’ll find some key traits and qualities that you should look for in a good litigation lawyer.
Litigation Lawyers: Who Are They?
Before we enumerate the different traits and qualities of a good litigation lawyer, let’s understand who they are first.
Litigation lawyers, also known as litigators, are lawyers who are experts in representing you at trial or lawsuit in a courtroom. Note that while all lawyers practice law, not all of them represent their clients at trial.
A litigator manages all phases of the litigation process, from case review and investigation, pleadings and discovery, and pre-trial to the appeal processes. Their tasks can vary based on the type and nature of the dispute, the litigator’s experience, and whether they’re representing the defendant or the plaintiff.
Traits And Qualities Of A Good Litigator
If you find yourself in a bit of a legal mess, ensure you hire the best litigators with the appropriate traits and come from a reputable law firm like Chand & Co. Start by checking out those that offer civil, commercial, regulatory, and criminal litigation services near you.
So, what are the key traits and qualities you need to look for in a litigator?
1. Compassionate
One of the qualities of any lawyer, particularly a litigator, is being compassionate. Compassion is the emotional response where one perceives another’s issues and sincerely wants to help resolve the issue.
While this is a part of what lawyers do, people come to them with their issues or to avoid one. Good lawyers can put themselves in their client’s shoes and fully understand the problems that their clients face.
Compassion is the foundation of good people skills. Without it, your lawyer can’t understand your position, anticipate what will happen, or take preemptive steps to benefit your case. A compassionate lawyer focuses on how you feel and accepts your perspective–whether or not they fully agree with it.
2. Highly Organized
As mentioned before, a litigation lawyer has several roles. These include managing all phases of the litigation process, doing investigative work, researching points of law and similar cases, drafting contracts and legal documents, meeting clients, managing case files, networking with legal professionals, and so much more.
It’s fair to say that the life of a litigation lawyer is one big juggling act. However, the best litigators are organized in their work. This way, despite mountains of case documents and task schedules, an effective litigator can prioritize and remain focused on the competing priorities and still provide excellent services to clients.
3. Creative And A Critical Thinker
Some people may think that being a part of a legal profession offers a limited outlet for creative talent, but this isn’t the case. Like other experts, litigation lawyers and other legal experts must think outside the box to get their job done.
In addition, critical thinking can help lawyers determine when some activities require a ‘bigger picture’ awareness. While anyone can present facts word-per-word during a court trial, highly analytical litigators can convert facts into solid arguments to defend their client.
4. Team Player
Winning litigation is not a one-man fight but more of a team effort. Litigation lawyers must collaborate with partners and colleagues and liaise with clients. They should foster a close working relationship with clerks and work on high-profile cases alongside barristers and solicitors.
A good litigator’s ability to be a team player is essential because they’ll need to deal with people from all levels of the legal hierarchy to prepare for your case.
5. Assertive
Assertive litigation lawyers can state their opinions and arguments without fail. They can make themselves heard while still being respectful of others. This is a better trait for litigators than being overly aggressive and lacking in compassion.
Choosing an assertive litigator lawyer will ensure that they will argue your side peacefully without causing damage to interpersonal relationships. This leads to a more cooperative court environment that makes agreement or resolution possible.
6. With Good Attention To Detail
Accuracy is a critical law skill and a pivotal trait in choosing the right litigation lawyer. A single word out of place can change the meaning of an argument or contract. Moreover, documents, letters, and emails with misspelled or grammatically incorrect information can negatively impact one’s impression of a firm. So, go with a lawyer that takes the smallest detail seriously, ensuring precision and thoughtfulness.
Takeaway
Facing litigation can be both emotionally and financially stressful. However, with the right litigation lawyer, the process can be a less intimidating experience. Hence, when choosing a litigation lawyer to defend your case, use the list discussed here to check for the right traits and qualities of the person who’ll represent you in court.
