The truth is that no one ever really wants to hire a lawyer. However, at some point in our lives, we may need to. Most people shy away from this because they may worry about the expenses involved or because they think that a lawyer may escalate the situation. Many individuals also think that they will have a better chance of representing themselves. The problem with these reasons is that they’re often groundless fears. Also, these individuals fail to take the extreme consequences of not hiring a defence counsel into consideration.
The main problem here is that if you have no frame of reference or if you’ve never hired an attorney before, it may be difficult to look for one. Therefore, we are highlighting some of the main reasons why you should hire a local defence counsel to represent you.
They will be accessible to you
A new trend is on the rise where law firms may set up “satellite” offices which have a local telephone number and a local address so that they can seem like a local business section on Google. But, usually there are no staff members in these “offices”, and they are just a little more than a telephone, a desk and a printer. So, when you need to see the lawyer, he/she would have to drive from another location, where their office is actually based. This makes the whole process highly difficult and unreliable. Having a local defence counsel means it will be more convenient for you to get in touch with them, without there being any delays. If you wish to drop off something at their office, you can simply leave it with their staff and won’t have to wait to set an appointment.
They generally know the opposing lawyer and local judges
Hiring a defence counsel that is not from the local area may mean that the individual may have never met the judge you are supposed to appear in front of. This means that they will be unfamiliar with their behaviour, personality, likes and dislikes and the way they run their courtroom. However, local attorneys generally attend local social events, mixers and conferences where they have the opportunity to develop a rapport with the other counsels and judges. This must not be misconstrued as a judge favouring the lawyer. It just means that it will be easier for your counsel to prepare and position your case.
They have a strong reputation in the community
Reputation is one of the most important things in the practice of law. If you spend some time in the local courts, you will quickly be able to recognize the attorneys that have high regard along with the ones that don’t. Also, local attorneys will be more likely to take care and maintain a positive attitude in their home court. They are also more likely to come well prepared and with a strategic and thorough approach to your case. However, if the attorney is not local, no one can never be sure whether they will appear in the court more than once.
It can prove to be a challenge to find a defence counsel who is truly local. As mentioned above, many law firms have “satellite” offices which can make the counsel appear local without offering any of the benefits. Hence, it is important for you to ask the defence counsel how often he/she is in a specific location before you hire them. If you or someone you know has been charged with a crime, don’t make the mistake of thinking you will get through it by yourself. We all need help sometimes, and you could use the help of Harpreet Sani, a leading criminal defence lawyer in Brampton.