1.Most lawyers today would have some form or online presence. Not too long ago however, this was not the case. Understanding the numerous ways that lawyers market themselves these days, can potentially assist you in your quest to obtain suitable and satisfactory legal representation.
2. When I first started practicing, lawyers’ attitudes towards ‘marketing’ drew mixed reactions. There were the gung-ho cowboys whose mottos were “Any publicity is good publicity”. On the polar opposite, were those who saw marketing as being “beneath” them. By the time I got called to the bar, most (like myself) understood the need to market, but options seemed limited (until recent years). More importantly, were the realconsiderations that we faced due to the restrictions under our relevant professional rules. For example, if a client made a public complaint about us on social media, how much could we publicly respond to such a complaint without breaching “confidentiality” rules? This question remains up in the air.
3. Of course, the wave of digital transformation just swept us all in its tide before we could “debate” this issue. Holding on to archaic views on marketing / publicity was no longer an option, even for the relics. To me, more lawyers going online was good for both the public and lawyers alike. People had a starting point to search for lawyers (*of course older folks took more time to adapt), and lawyers similarly had a chance to let the public know that they existed.
A. Factors to Consider
4. Before searching for a suitable divorce lawyer, it would be useful for you to consider what you are looking for in a lawyer. Understandably, some may find themselves clueless either because they have not encountered lawyers or divorce before. After all, most people would rightfully try their best to avoid both. However, here are some factors that I propose you consider (*Note: This is not an exhaustive list):
4.1 Charges / Costs / Fees:
(a) This is fundamental because there is no point engaging a lawyer that you are not able to afford. However, I do not suggest looking for just the “cheapest” lawyer.You would need to consider what the “charges” include (i.e. the kind of work, the competence of the lawyer handling your matter, etc.).
(b) Law firms are businesses too, so they would have running costs (i.e. rental, salaries for lawyers / staff, infrastructure, etc.). So, if you land a “good deal”, always ask yourself what is being sacrificed. In the most simplistic of terms, people (and law firms) can only handle a certain volume efficiently. For a law firm, lower costs would mean the need to take on more cases, meaning less time able to be spent on each matter. No matter how “simple” a matter is, to handle a legal matter properlyrequires a certain amount of time. As the saying goes, “There is nothing more expensive than a cheap lawyer”.
(c) I am also not suggesting going in the total opposite direction. “Most expensive” does not mean “best” either. An inexperienced lawyer may end up spending more time and costs compared to an experienced lawyer who is able to accomplish the same piece of work in a shorter time. Ultimately, price must be seen together with all other relevant factors and should not be the only consideration.
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