An ideal lawyer will not just have a string of impressive credentials or gold lettering on his door. They will be caring, concerned, and devoted to their work. You need to think carefully before laying your trust in a lawyer. After all, in some cases, your life, future, money, or property will be in his hands.

Apart from doing extensive research to shortlist possible lawyers, you must ensure that there is no conflict of interest, that you understand everything the retainer agreement states, and that you have checked the references and details regarding the practice.

You will know the lawyer you have chosen is the perfect one if:

1. He makes an effort to spend time to understand your case himself. He will not assign a legal assistant to take the facts of the case down.

2. From experience and knowledge, he will know what is relevant and what is not. He will set aside and ignore irrelevant facts, opinions, and personal emotions that cloud the case.

3. He will insist that the footwork for the case be done thoroughly. All facts must be checked for accuracy, and solid arguments must be jotted down with the backing of earlier rulings.

4. He will not just focus on the problem at hand but examine the problem from all sides. This will create a complete picture highlighting all factors of relevance and the different ways one can approach the case.

5. He will use his foresight and anticipate moves by the opposition or opinions of the jury or judge and plan the way. Like a master chess player, he will plan the case not by the day but by many hearings ahead.

6. He will not waste time beating around the bush or creating verbose statements—many words strung together which look impressive but mean nothing. He will insist that the case and its arguments be clearly stated.

7. He will be self-disciplined, thorough, and self-confident. Courteous at all times, he will respect you and all the staff working for him.

8. He is recommended not just by his friends and relatives but other professionals of good standing and from his field.

9. He will not just present his victories to you but be happy to tell you why and how he lost certain cases.

10. He will lay the cards on the table and tell you clearly whether your case stands to win or lose. He will not claim that winning is guaranteed. He will be honest and upfront about his opinions and advice.

The bottom line is that the lawyer must be worthy of your trust. Use your inborn instincts, and don’t go by the lawyer’s good looks or fancy car or office. After all, it is competence in law and court that is of essence to you.