Although it is the client that has the majority of the choice when it comes to finding a defense lawyer, don’t assume that lawyers aren’t also sizing up their client and their case the moment that they call the firm or show up for a free case review. There are certain qualities we look for in clients when we’re discussing their case because neither side wants the situation to be a waste of time. We’re willing to stick our necks out for clients, but at the end of the day, if it’s just not a good fit, we’ll say so and provide some recommendations for their next steps forward.
With that in mind, we want to showcase some of the things that a defense lawyer hopes to see in a prospective client when they are considering taking on a case so that you can make yourself a more appealing client to your lawyer.
What We Want In A Client
We don’t want the world from you, but there are a few basic things that we look for in every client when they walk through our doors. Here’s what we’re looking for when we’re considering taking a case.
1. Honesty – First and foremost, we need you to be honest with us. You have attorney-client privilege with your lawyer, so you need to know that anything you tell them cannot be passed along to the prosecution to hurt your case. We need you to be honest with us because it helps us develop the best defense. If we know how the prosecution is likely to build their case, it makes it easier for us to attack their main points. We can’t have clients who lie to us, because it torpedoes your case and wastes everyone’s time. We’re looking for honestly and candor during this initial meeting.
2. Informative – The more information you bring to this meeting, the easier it will be for us to wrap our heads around a defense plan. We understand that you may not have access to the police report right away, but if you bring basic information like where and when you were arrested, which department handled your arrest, what you’re being charged with and the contact information of any witnesses, it shows that you’re organized and an asset. Again, we don’t need this all at the outset, but if you are willing to help provide your lawyer with any relevant information, it makes everyone’s life a little easier.
3. Level Headedness – We hope that clients walk in our office cool and collected, but we know that an arrest can be a hectic situation. Try to take a breath and compose yourself before walking in and presenting your case. If you’re irate, impulsive and agitated, it’s going to make the process more difficult for everybody. We know it won’t always be easy, but try your best to be composed when discussing your case.
4. Good Listener – The best clients are the ones who hear what we are saying and follow our instructions. If we say stay out of trouble or avoid alcohol and drugs while the case plays out, follow this advice. We don’t want to find out you got in more trouble while your case was pending because you couldn’t follow our instructions. We’re looking for clients who understand that following our advice is incredibly helpful to the outcome of your case.
5. Ability To Pay – Although we’d like to help every single person who needs legal assistance, we do talk about financial matters during this initial consult. We’re not going to demand an exorbitant amount of money for a retainer, but the ideal client will have the means to pay or at least work up a payment plan with our team. We do plenty of pro bono and charity work through other legal ventures, but the fact of the matter is we can’t take on clients who have no ability to pay their legal fees. We’re always willing to listen and try to come up with options for payment plans, but when it comes to what a lawyer looks for in an ideal client, the ability to pay is an important aspect.
Failing to have any of these factors will not exclude you from working with a defense lawyer, but trying to meet the above criteria really makes the process smoother for attorney and client. If there’s any areas where you think you’ll need additional assistance, just let us know, and we’ll do what we can to help.
To set up a free case review with the team at Appelman Law Firm, give our team a call today at (952) 224-2277.
