Top 5 Qualities to Seek in a Litigation Attorney

There might come a time when you find yourself tangled in a situation where you essentially require the services of a competent litigation attorney. Litigation attorneys deal with legal issues that do not fall under the jurisdiction of criminal law. For example, Lawsuits & Dispute Attorney Houston Texas, represents clients in civil matters related to business, personal injury, insurance, and employment. During courtroom trial, a litigation lawyer is expected to fight for an individual, group, or company before a judge or jury. Besides, if an issue can be resolved outside of court, the litigation lawyer may be called upon to negotiate an agreement or settlement.

Here are the top five qualities to seek in a litigation attorney:

1. Knowledge and Experience

Litigation lawyers may specialize in a range of civil matters or just one/a few. Therefore, it makes sense to enquire about their past cases and test their knowledge regarding the issue that you are faced with. For example, if you have sued your landlord, you should be working with a litigation attorney who specializes in Landlord & Tenant Law. Similarly, you will need to hire a business litigation lawyer for a civil dispute that threatens your company.

2. Communication Skills

The ability of the attorney to convey the concept and logic for a suggested verdict to the decision maker, be it the judge or the jury, is what separates successful from unsuccessful attorneys. It doesn’t matter how good or winnable a case is, unless your legal representative possesses excellent communication skills. An attorney who cannot speak their mind or explain their point will certainly fail to make a good impression. They need to radiate confidence and be ready with counter-arguments when the opposing side attacks.

3. Interpersonal Skills

A litigator spends most of his/her time conversing with coworkers, clients, judges, and other individuals associated with the judicial industry. Every type of interaction requires a unique set of interpersonal skills. Sometimes the litigator needs to demonstrate a leadership role, and other times they have to exhibit the capacity to listen patiently and respond eloquently. It is imperative that an attorney is comfortable talking and getting along with different kinds of people. When you go attorney shopping, you will automatically develop a likeness towards the candidates who are eager to hear you out and ask questions about your case.

4. Power or Persuasion

Establishing a compelling argument before a judge, jury, client, or opposing counsel on any given subject is fundamentally what a litigator should be capable of. They often have to convince the prosecutor that their client’s case is much stronger than they think, even when it’s not. The capacity to perceive and relate to individuals is essence of persuasiveness. If a lawyer can understand and relate to the audience, influencing them is as simple as addressing their concerns and laying out the benefits of a personal opinion.

5. Negotiation Skills

Although the majority of civil cases are never tried before a judge or jury, the compulsion to take a matter to court has proven to be an effective scheme to drive settlement discussions. The defendant or their insurer will commence the bargaining process if you are capable and prepared to fight your case in a courtroom. Litigation is expensive, even if you are on the winning side, so the defendant will want to avoid it. A cooperative negotiator is able to reach a more attractive settlement offer in contrast to an aggressive and confrontational negotiator. Regardless of your preferred method, bear in mind that you may have to deal with the defendant again in the future; a more pleasant approach may help maintain a civil and respectful relationship.