These days’ being caught in the wrong side of the law is as easy as carrying the wrong paper bag, or ‘accidentally littering’ or some dubious activities that can lead you to jail. Even if you are the holiest of the holiest, sh*t happens.
When it does itis good to be equipped with the right information and the right lawyer, which brings us down to this; what really makes a good lawyer?
You can go to law school but you can’t teach sound judgment. Though law school trains future lawyers on how to assess cases using legal knowledge, having sound judgment is something that comes naturally. This means that some have it and some don’t. Make sure you choose a lawyer who has sound judgment since you’ll be relying on their judgment of your case. It’s hard to determine how good someone’s judgment is. In many situations, you’ll have to go with your gut feeling.
3. Reference
If you’re in doubt about your lawyer’s ability to handle your case, don’t be afraid to ask for references. You can ask which cases he’s worked on in the matter and their outcome. Sometimes, it’s not enough to have knowledge in the field. It’s also important to have a positive outcome in a case so as to display competence. Additionally, you can ask former clients or fellow advocates about the lawyer’s conduct so as to know what you’ll be dealing with.
4. Availability
A lawyer owes his client certain duties including availability. Whenever you need him, he should be available to attend to you. This doesn’t mean that your lawyer shouldn’t have other things to do. This simply means that he should have time for you in order to update you on your case progress. Whether it’s through appointments, phone calls or leaving your messages, you’ll need to stay in contact with your lawyer throughout your case, so get a lawyer who’s readily available.
5. Ethical
Hiring an unethical lawyer puts your case at risk. Before choosing a lawyer, make sure you do your due diligence. Check whether they have been involved in any professional misconduct. You can do so by searching for their name online. Every lawyer in Kenya who is admitted to The Bar has a profile on the LSK website which shows whether they are active, inactive, suspended or struck off. But you can also ask around to find if the person is ethical.
6. Expertise
General practice lawyers can help you with common legal problems such as petty crimes, drafting and endorsing documents and general legal advice. However, if you have a delicate matter, you need to consult a lawyer with knowledge and experience in that filed. For instance, child custody matters require the services of a family lawyer. Therefore, when you’re looking for one, check whether they have family law listed as one of their practice areas.