How do I choose the Best Lawyer for Me?

Choosing a lawyer should take longer than choosing where to buy takeaway on a Friday night.

There are many factors that weigh into how we choose a lawyer when we need one.

OSheaDyer Solicitors includes 18 people, ages 22 years through to 68. All of us have retained a lawyer at least once. Ten of us have needed a conveyance done. All of us have had Wills and Enduring Power of Attorney’s done. Seven of us have retained a Family Lawyer to assist with separation. Three of us have had a Compensation Claims lawyer (for a motor vehicle accident claim, a workcover compensation claim, and a public liability compensation claim).

We asked our team what is important to them when choosing a lawyer.

The answers below, are honest, insightful and from people who have experienced having a lawyer. They are also from people 'in the know' - from people who work in a busy law practice.

If you are making a decision on who to retain as your lawyer, we hope these answers find you and give you guidance.

“I want a lawyer who is reasonably priced. I don’t necessarily want the cheapest or the lawyer with the lowest hourly rate. I want good value for my money.

I don’t want them recording lots of time on my file and running up a massive bill – but hardly getting anything meaningful done.

I want them to be experienced and knowledgeable. I want someone who is good at opening lines of communication and engaging in negotiations.

I want them to be able to work well with other people/lawyers to reach an agreement cost effectively (if possible).

I don’t want a lawyer who is aggressive straight off the bat who is constantly threatening court proceedings.”

Bridget Barrie, Associate Lawyer at OSheaDyer Solicitors Townsville.

“I want my lawyer to be experienced, honest with me and charge me reasonable fees.”

Shelleigh Naessens, Senior paralegal in the Personal Injuries Department at OSheaDyer Solicitors Townsville.

“I would do my own research to find a lawyer. I would check out the websites of quite a few law firms and have a good look at them. I would look for a website that is authentic. I wouldn’t like the look of something that is garish or tacky and a highly commercial or snooty-looking website would not appeal to me either.

I’m looking for friendly and something that makes me feel like I am going to have a genuine ‘human interaction’ with this lawyer and the firm they work at.

Reading Google Reviews that are the real deal (and you can spot them a mile off if they aren’t) would also be something I would do.

If I have a personal injury claim or compensation claim matter, I want an experienced lawyer who knows what they are doing. I want to hear from them regularly. I want them to be organised and I want to trust them implicitly.

I also want to meet for the first time without committing to them being ‘my lawyer’. If I have an injury that has really rocked my life, I want to make sure they are personable and friendly, and I will feel relaxed with them. I know I will have to tell them lots of personal information so I would never want to feel uncomfortable with them.

I wouldn’t look for the cheapest lawyer. But I would want my lawyer to be honest and upfront with me about costs. I want to be informed in advance about fees. I want things like costs agreements – that can be very confusing – explained in detail so that I understand.”

Tyla Leo, Senior Associate Lawyer in the Personal Injuries Team at OSheaDyer Solicitors Townsville.

“I want a lawyer who is confident and experienced. I want them to be reasonably priced but I would be willing to pay more for an experienced lawyer who looks after my interests and gets me a really good outcome.”

Eleanor Potter, Paralegal in the Personal Injuries Team at OSheaDyer Solicitors Townsville.

“I want a fair bit in a lawyer.

If I have a large matter like a compensation claim, I want to meet with a couple of lawyers so I can make a good decision about the right lawyer for me. In a matter like this, which is a substantial amount of work, I want to be able to meet them, discuss things with them, get an impression of them, get some general advice from them about my claim and the fees involved, AND I don’t want to be charged any fees for this. I also don’t want to feel any pressure to retain them as my lawyer.

I want a lawyer who knows the laws that are relevant to my situation inside and out. I want them to be professional, have loads of experience so they have lots of strategies and tactics under their belt that might help me. I want a lawyer who is familiar with how insurers or claims managers operate.

I want them to be experienced, smart, humble, friendly and sincere. Someone who genuinely wants to assist me and provide solutions to my problems. Someone who understands my situation who I feel comfortable with. I want to trust them implicitly and be treated with respect and as an equal. I also want them to tell me ‘best and worst case scenarios’ and not just ‘what I want to hear’.

I want them to give me good legal advice on what to do, and I would take their advice.

I want to know who is on my lawyers’ team. I know that in a big matter, there will be paralegals and secretaries and other lawyers working with my lawyer. I want to know who else is working on my team to get things done and who else I can contact about questions if my lawyer is caught up in a conference or at Court.

I want to know what is happening – even if we are just waiting for things to progress.

I want to know what the fees are and be informed about that every step of the way. I want to feel like I can always ask questions about fees or anything for that matter.”

Ivan Baxter, Director and Senior Litigation Lawyer at OSheaDyer Solicitors Townville.

“I want a lawyer who knows their stuff, is approachable and who isn’t over the top with their fees.”

Jodi Dingwall, Senior Family lawyer at OSheaDyer Solicitors Townville.

“I want a lawyer who is authentic, reasonable with fees, able to think outside the box and willing to listen. I want my lawyer to be empathetic.”

Susan Kennedy, Legal Secretary at OSheaDyer Solicitors Townville.

“I want a lawyer who I can relate to, who is also a straight shooter. I want someone who is smart but down to earth. I want them to be comfortable enough to give me ‘real’ advice – even if it’s not what I want to hear. And I want to be able to afford them!”

Emma Donald, Senior Family Lawyer at OSheaDyer Solicitors Townsville.

“I want an experienced family lawyer who cares about my situation, and me. I would like a lawyer to charge reasonable fees. But I would be happy to pay more to have someone I feel really comfortable with, who has experience, gives great service, and gets a good outcome for me.”

Zoe Haddon, Paralegal Family Law at OSheaDyer Solicitors Townsville.

“I want my lawyer to have a good website which is clear, modern and helpful. From the website, I want to be able to see ‘my lawyer’ and know their level of experience. I also want an impression they are approachable.”

Cathy Fon, Associate Lawyer at OSheaDyer Solicitors Townsville until 2022.

“I want a lawyer who is local to my area, who has lots of experience and has been in business for a long time.”

Robyn Mullins, Conveyancer and Senior Legal Secretary at OSheaDyer Solicitors Townsville.

“I think the first impression is really important. If I am made to feel at ease when I meet them, I will go with them. Also, the ‘price has to be right’.”

Rochelle Glasheen, Receptionist and Accounts Manager at OSheaDyer Solicitors Townsville.

“I want my lawyer to be experienced and smart.

Working for a law firm - I understand that (unless it’s a fixed fee arrangement) I will be charged for the time (hours) spent on my ‘file’. Because of this, I will want to know my lawyer’s hourly rate and match it to their experience.

A lawyer’s hourly rate should be indicative of their experience, and therefore their capability and efficiency. A higher hourly rate, if you’re at the right firm, should mean that your lawyer might take 2 hours to do a job that a lawyer with less experience might complete in 4 hours. An hourly rate is relative - but the expertise that comes with experience is not.

If I had a potential injury or compensation claim, I would most likely meet with a few lawyers before deciding on ‘the one for me’. This decision is vital – because I want to know that my lawyer will see me through to the end of my claim. I want this lawyer to be experienced; someone who has obtained great results for people in the past.

I also want to like my lawyer - and to know that they are genuine in achieving the best outcome possible for me.

Alex Baxter, Marketing Assistant at OSheaDyer Solicitors Townsville.

“If I have a problem and need a lawyer, I want someone who is available to see me straight away. I also want a lawyer who is experienced and makes me feel at ease. Knowing how much it will cost would also be important to me, but I understand that some things can only be estimated as no one knows if they will settle or if they will have to go to Court.

I don’t want a lawyer who is a puppet, that I ‘tell what to do’. I want a lawyer who listens, gives me good advice and options and makes it easy for me to make the best decisions. If that means they ‘tell me what to do’, then even better. That’s what I’m paying for.

If I had a complex matter, like a motor vehicle accident claim or a workplace compensation claim – or any personal injury claim for that matter, I would always choose the lawyer with the most experience. It would be like choosing a doctor to perform surgery on my neck. I would never choose the guy with 2, 5 or even 10 years’ experience. If there’s a Dr available who’s been doing ‘my type of surgery’ for 15 years or more, they are the one I want. I’ll meet him/her and find out what type of results they have been getting and if all the boxes are ticked, I’ll choose them, even if they have an average bedside manner.”

Jo Roebuck, Business Manager at O'Shea Dyer Solicitors Townsville.

The most important factors when choosing a lawyer:

  • Experience, especially when your matter is complex, trumps everything as this is most likely to get you the best outcomes.
  • Having a good relationship with your lawyer that is based on trust.
  • Value for money.

What if I want to change lawyers?

If you have an ongoing legal matter, and you aren’t happy with your lawyer’s fees, service or results, don’t feel stuck.

Everyone is free to book an appointment with a lawyer at another firm for a second opinion.

Getting a second opinion, from a good lawyer is a very helpful thing to do. Sometimes, that feeling in your gut that you just aren’t getting what you need, is confirmed and you can engage a new lawyer who will sort out the transition for you. And sometimes, you may receive reassurance that staying is what is best for your situation.

Whenever we have met with people who were unhappy with their lawyer, they have been glad to receive a second opinion - whether it be reassurance that their lawyer is acting in their best interests or that they should make a change. Some have retained us as their lawyer; some have been referred to another lawyer who we know does a great job in that area of law; and a few have been advised to stay where they are, as the ‘legal process’ was actually the frustration and not their lawyer. The important thing is to trust your gut and get a second opinion. 

Finding the right Lawyer

Knowing what you want in a lawyer is one thing - finding them is quite another. 

It’s quick and easy and takes about 10 seconds to find a lawyer on google. Two clicks and you can call or email an enquiry straight through to a law firm. Take a few more minutes to look at a few websites and to call a few law firms. If you do this, you can compare prices and get a feel for the people you are engaging to do your work, and the service you will likely receive.

If your matter is likely to be time-consuming and ongoing, you will be working with your lawyer for a substantial period of time and you will actually have a professional relationship with them. If this is the case, it’s actually important to spend some time finding the ‘right lawyer for you’.

In a more involved and complex matter, having an experienced lawyer you can trust and feel comfortable with, will be a great advantage to you.

Family law

If you have any type of family law issues it can make all the difference to your future to obtain advice from a lawyer you trust as the process of separation can be stressful. It will be important to find a lawyer who you feel comfortable with.   If you need to engage a lawyer to represent you for family law, it is critical to find and engage an experienced family lawyer.

Compensation Claims

If you have a compensation claim (ie. You have been in a motor vehicle accident, work accident or have a public liability claim or any type of injury claim) it will make a significant difference to the outcome and your future if you find and engage an experienced personal injury lawyer you can trust. Most compensation claims lawyers are no win no fee. This should not be the only thing that matters to you. Look a little deeper.

Lawyers who do personal injury work are quite restricted in how they can advertise their work and how they solicit work.

Until a person ‘finds them’ by making a genuine enquiry, lawyers are not allowed to tell you about previous successes they have had, amounts they have obtained for past clients, their ‘great reputation’ or that they are an ‘industry leader’ etc.

There are many lawyers who do this - who are breaking professional guidelines in order to attract clients.

Also - be very aware of lawyers who ‘find you’. The Queensland Legal Services Commission is cracking down on unscrupulous lawyers who pay people for names of injured people (eg. tow truck operators, etc).

We hear of people receiving calls (or a visit at a hospital bed) days after an accident, from a lawyer wanting to make a claim for them. The person is left bewildered as to how they got their details. Clearly, someone who knows about your accident has given your name to the lawyer. This is highly inappropriate, insensitive, unprofessional, and illegal!

A lawyer should not approach you about making a compensation claim for you. They should always wait for that person to initiate a conversation. You should be the one approaching the lawyer. This usually happens when a client calls the lawyer or law firm to chat or make an appointment to discuss their situation.

Websites: What should I look for?

If you look closely at a firms website you will see in to 'who they are'. If you can't see - then steer clear. Taking the time to look at a few websites is a great way to ‘research’ for a lawyer that will suit you.

A good website should give you information about the lawyers who work there, their experience, and the service you can expect. The style and tone of the content on the website will also (usually) reflect the culture of the firm and the quality of the work they do.

Lots of people do look around at websites:

"I would want to do my own research to find a lawyer. I would check out the websites of quite a few law firms and have a good look at them. I would look for a website that is authentic. I wouldn’t like the look of something that is garish and a highly commercial-looking website would not appeal to me either. I’m looking for friendly and something that makes me feel like I am going to have a genuine ‘human interaction’ with this lawyer and the firm they work at. Reading Google reviews that are the real deal (and you can spot them a mile off if they aren’t) would also be something I would do

Tyla Leo, 24 yrs, Townsville.

When you look at a law firms website notice these things:

Do they look genuinely helpful?
  • Is the website easy to navigate?
  • Are they trying to connect with you in an authentic way?
  • Have they gone to the effort of creating and providing free information for clients - Articles, Answers to FAQs, etc.
  • Are there any special offers that seem genuine and helpful? For example:
    • ‘First Family Law Appointments’ for a low fixed fee;
    • Free Enduring Power Attorney with your Will;
    • No charge for First Appointments for Compensation Claims and No Win No Fee No Uplift.
  • Are they transparent with how they charge fees?
How long have they been in Practice?

If a firm has been operating for twenty or more years that is a good sign they have a solid reputation as many clients will have returned to them (because they did a great job) and will likely have referred friends and people they know to that firm.

Can you see the lawyers who work there? Can you see who the Director and Shareholders are?

There are many websites for law firms who do injury claims where you can't see who the lawyers are who work there - or who the Director/Shareholders/Owners of the business are. A law firm should be transparent with this information. You don't just choose a law firm - you form a relationship with your lawyer.

Look at the website and notice:

  • Are the directors/shareholders/owners of the firm obvious?
  • Is there a picture and information available about the lawyer you are looking for and
  • Is the year they were admitted to practice, their qualifications and information about their experience available?
  • Is there a reference to any articles they have written?

Transparency with this type of information is important. You should know who owns the business as there may be times where you need to contact them specifically. It should also be clear whether the lawyer acting for you has one, five, or more years of experience

Does the website include Testimonials from Real people?

Clients who are happy to provide some words of praise to be published on a website are very happy customers indeed. Testimonials are great recommendations. Sometimes clients give a testimonial but wish to conceal their name or leave off their surname for personal reasons which is very reasonable.

Some websites contain ‘made up’ testimonials. If you are looking at the website to evaluate it carefully, you can usually tell if something is ‘made up’. With a little bit of nous, it is easy to spot reviews that are made up.

Family Law,  Compensation Claims - Injury Law Claims, Wills and Probate.

O'Shea Dyer Solicitors Townsville recommend seeing an experienced lawyer you can trust to strive for excellent outcomes.

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