The “Best Attorney”
Why It’s the Wrong Question to Ask
I hear it all the time. “I’m looking for the best attorney.” “I’ve got the best attorney.” “Who’s the best attorney for this?” It’s a ridiculous question. The best attorney for you depends on you: your case, your court, your budget, and whether you can stand talking to the person for the next six months.
There’s No Such Thing
People picture somebody with a perfect win record who can talk any judge or jury into anything. That lawyer doesn’t exist. And even if they did, a brilliant trial lawyer isn’t much use to you if you need a Chapter 7 filed and they haven’t opened a bankruptcy file in years. Knowing the law is the minimum. Your lawyer also has to listen, explain things in plain English, call you back, and be straight with you about your chances.
Why Chasing “the Best” Backfires
People hire the big name on the billboard and never talk to anyone but a paralegal. They hire the lawyer who won their cousin’s car-wreck case to handle a DWI. Or they walk in expecting a miracle, and anything short of one feels like losing. Law isn’t a sport with a scoreboard. A good result in a DWI might be a reduced charge and keeping your license. A good result in bankruptcy is a clean discharge with nothing left on the table.
What to Look for Instead
Forget “best.” Look for the right fit. When you call a lawyer, ask:
- How many cases like mine do you handle in a year?
- Which courts do you appear in? (For a ticket in a St. Charles County municipal court, you want someone who’s actually in those courtrooms.)
- Will I be talking to you, or to your staff?
- What’s the fee, flat or hourly, and what does it cover?
- How fast do you return calls?
If the answers are vague, keep looking. Ask friends who’ve been through the same thing, read the reviews, and meet the lawyer in person if you can. You’ll know pretty quickly whether you can work with them.
The best attorney for a DWI isn’t the best attorney for your bankruptcy, and neither one is the best attorney for your divorce. Find the one who handles your kind of case every week and who will tell you the truth, even when it isn’t what you want to hear.
If your problem is bankruptcy, debt, a DWI or a ticket in St. Charles County, call me at 636-486-1093. If I’m not the right fit, I’ll tell you.
St. Peters, MO 63303
Phone: 636-486-1093
Fax: 636-634-3462
