A Good Hastings Lawyer
We often get asked what we think makes a good lawyer. What separates the great lawyers from the also rans, and what that means in the modern world. Below are a few of the values that we aim to encompass every day. You'll see a strong theme running through this post – the client comes first.
KNOWLEDGE
Sometimes this gets taken for granted – every lawyer has completed a law degree, so technically every lawyer should have that base legal knowledge. However, in practice, knowledge takes on a number of shapes. The law is continually evolving, so a good lawyer will keep up with those changes to best help their clients. They will know their clients, know why their clients make certain decisions and know how they can best add value to those clients. They know every client is different and every client has their own needs.
COMMUNICATION
Again, this is something that you'd expect every lawyer to have in their arsenal. When we think of lawyers, we think of those big movie lawyers that stand up in court and speak flowing verses to convince a jury one way or another. In reality, that is not what most lawyers do from day to day, but communication should still be right at the top of the list. A good lawyer will be able to take complex legal issues and communicate them simply to a lay audience. A good lawyer will be able to negotiate and interact with their legal peers to best their client's causes. They will communicate well with their team, as every member of a law firm, from the smiling face that greets clients at the door, right through to the accounts team, plays an integral part in getting results for their clients.
FAIR PRICING
In a provincial setting in particular, doing right by your clients in a financial sense is crucial. Lawyers deal in a complex world that a lot of their clients won't necessarily understand, so it's hugely important to foster client trust by pricing fairly. Rather than just being bound by an hourly rate, a good lawyer will understand the value of their work to a client. A good lawyer will have clients that receive an invoice and don't receive a shock.
INTEGRITY
The legal industry is one completely based on trust. Our clients bring us into events in their life that are often confidential and potentially life changing. Every lawyer must act with integrity. In everything they do they should follow a strong set of ethics while doing the best possible job for their client. They will be trusted by the community, by their clients and by their peers.
EFFICIENCY
If there is a deadline, a good lawyer will meet it. They will complete a job with the utmost efficiency – never cutting corners, but always delivering a result for their client on time. They will know what is happening in their practice daily and keep immaculate records for their clients.
There is plenty that goes into making a good lawyer and this post only starts to scratch the surface of that. We like to focus on being good people first and the good lawyer part will come naturally. By having a fulfilling life outside work, sticking to a strong moral code and always, always doing best by our clients we hope to bring a dynamic new approach to law.
Find out more about our legal team here.
KNOWLEDGE
Sometimes this gets taken for granted – every lawyer has completed a law degree, so technically every lawyer should have that base legal knowledge. However, in practice, knowledge takes on a number of shapes. The law is continually evolving, so a good lawyer will keep up with those changes to best help their clients. They will know their clients, know why their clients make certain decisions and know how they can best add value to those clients. They know every client is different and every client has their own needs.
COMMUNICATION
Again, this is something that you'd expect every lawyer to have in their arsenal. When we think of lawyers, we think of those big movie lawyers that stand up in court and speak flowing verses to convince a jury one way or another. In reality, that is not what most lawyers do from day to day, but communication should still be right at the top of the list. A good lawyer will be able to take complex legal issues and communicate them simply to a lay audience. A good lawyer will be able to negotiate and interact with their legal peers to best their client's causes. They will communicate well with their team, as every member of a law firm, from the smiling face that greets clients at the door, right through to the accounts team, plays an integral part in getting results for their clients.
FAIR PRICING
In a provincial setting in particular, doing right by your clients in a financial sense is crucial. Lawyers deal in a complex world that a lot of their clients won't necessarily understand, so it's hugely important to foster client trust by pricing fairly. Rather than just being bound by an hourly rate, a good lawyer will understand the value of their work to a client. A good lawyer will have clients that receive an invoice and don't receive a shock.
INTEGRITY
The legal industry is one completely based on trust. Our clients bring us into events in their life that are often confidential and potentially life changing. Every lawyer must act with integrity. In everything they do they should follow a strong set of ethics while doing the best possible job for their client. They will be trusted by the community, by their clients and by their peers.
EFFICIENCY
If there is a deadline, a good lawyer will meet it. They will complete a job with the utmost efficiency – never cutting corners, but always delivering a result for their client on time. They will know what is happening in their practice daily and keep immaculate records for their clients.
There is plenty that goes into making a good lawyer and this post only starts to scratch the surface of that. We like to focus on being good people first and the good lawyer part will come naturally. By having a fulfilling life outside work, sticking to a strong moral code and always, always doing best by our clients we hope to bring a dynamic new approach to law.
Find out more about our legal team here.