Table of Contents
Were you injured at work?
You’re not alone.
Every 7 seconds, a workplace injury happens. That means that every year there are over 4 million workers hurt on the job. Thankfully, a workers’ compensation lawyer can help victims like you get the compensation you need to pay for your medical needs.
However, first, you’ll have to make sure you’re hiring the right type of lawyer for the job. To help you out we’ve created this short but complete guide, outlining what traits you should expect your lawyer to have. By taking the time to find a lawyer you can trust, you’ll finally be able to get your life back on track.
Read on to learn 10 qualities a workers’ comp attorney should possess.
1. Great Communication Skills
First, you’ll want to make sure you’re choosing a workers’ comp attorney who has great communication skills.
Here are a few signs of good communication skills:
- Not interrupting
- Actively listening
- Ability to empathize
- Approachability
- Curiosity about your claim
Your lawyer’s communication skills should extend to include in-person encounters, emails, and phone consultations. If your lawyer doesn’t have great communication skills, working with them is going to be a hassle.
Easy To Talk To
You should feel 100% comfortable whenever you speaking with your attorney. If at any point you feel rushed, or unvalued, it’s time to take your business elsewhere. A good lawyer will always be curious to learn more about your case, and they’ll ask questions to express their interest.
If it’s always a 1 sided conversation, where you’re doing all of the talking, the lawyer isn’t bringing enough value to the table. Finally, make sure your lawyer’s someone who will be reachable if you have questions or concerns.
2. Experienced Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
Moving on, it’s also important that you find a workers’ compensation lawyer who has experience. Specifically, they should have experience handling workers’ compensation claims that are similar to yours.
Experienced lawyers will have an easier time helping you navigate the paperwork and court systems to have the best possible outcome. In addition to experience, you should also look for lawyers who have a winning case history.
Ask About Case History
Don’t be afraid to ask potential lawyers what their experience is, or how many cases like yours they’ve won. Your lawyer should be proud to tell you about what they’ve been able to do for their past clients, as well as how they think they can help you.
3. Sound Judgement
Next, a quality workers’ comp lawyer is one that exercises sound judgment. Unfortunately, common sense isn’t always common. Just because someone’s a legal professional, that doesn’t mean they’re accustomed to making wise decisions.
Instead, you have to carefully scrutinize potential workers’ compensation lawyer, to get a feel for how they behave. One of the easiest ways to determine lawyers’ judgment abilities is by once again asking for a recap of their case history. Lawyers who have a lot of wins under their belts are most likely achieving their success by practicing sound judgment.
4. Strong Analytical Skills
Another way to boost your chances of winning your workers’ compensation lawsuit is to find a lawyer with strong analytical skills.
Here are a few examples of what strong analytical skills look like:
- Ability to think critically
- Problem-solving skills
- Good decision making
Lawyers with strong analytical skills will have an easy time seeing your case from all points of view. By being able to put themselves in the mindset of the defendant, your lawyer will be able to predict what type of arguments the defendant’s lawyer might bring up regarding your case. The more analytical your lawyer is, the easier it’ll be for them to create effective counter-arguments.
5. Excellent Research Abilities
Next, you need a workers’ compensation attorney that’s great at researching things. The best lawyers are the ones who can quickly, and accurately, research the information necessary to win your case.
If your lawyer seems overwhelmed by the complexity of your case, it’s probably because they don’t know how to get all of the information they need to be successful. A good lawyer will be confident in their ability to perform legal research in a variety of ways.
6. True Perseverance
Moving on, you also need a lawyer that practices perseverance. Perseverance is when someone keeps on doing something, no matter how hard it gets.
To determine whether or not a lawyer has perseverance, ask them to tell you about one of their most difficult cases. Find out what type of hurdles they had to overcome, and how did they do so? The best lawyers are the ones who are so passionate about fighting for their client’s rights that they’re willing to do whatever it takes to settle the case.
7. Ability To Think Outside the Box
Next, look for an attorney that’s capable of being creative and thinking outside of the box. Being a great lawyer means having the ability to do more than just research, and interpret information. The best lawyers also can analyze each situation using abstract thought.
Abstract thinking makes it possible for lawyers to use the relationships between different laws in your favor. Instead of simply accepting defeat when something doesn’t work out, a creative lawyer will think, “What if we try this instead”, as they start to rework the problem.
8. Logical Thinking Skills
While you want a creative lawyer, they also need to be able to think logically about the facts of your case. Here are a few examples of logical thinking skills:
- Ability to review multiple documents
- Creating inferences
- Establishing connections
- Evaluate arguments
- Inductive reasoning skills
- Deductive reasoning skills
Inductive reasoning skills means your lawyer will be able to use their past experiences to help them find solutions for your case. Deductive reasoning skills means your lawyer will be able to apply the facts of your case to well-established laws.
If your lawyer is lacking in either their inductive or deductive reasoning skills, they’ll have a hard time creating a compelling argument for your case. Finally, the best law professionals are the ones who can assimilate a large amount of complex information, such as your case details, effectively and efficiently.
9. Strong Public Speaking Skills
Glossophobia or the fear of public speaking is something that affects 73% of the American population. Even though lawyers are used to having to speak publicly, that doesn’ mean they’re comfortable doing so.
There’s a big difference between a lawyer who’s willing to speak in front of a crowd and a lawyer who’s excited to speak publicly. Look for lawyers that enjoy public speaking, rather than simply put up with it.
Storytelling Abilities
Good public speakers are easy to understand because they use repetition and storytelling. Oftentimes, the best lawyers will paint a picture about your case for the judge or jury, by telling a story about what took place.
Notice How Your Lawyer Speaks To You
One of the ways you can tell if your lawyer’s good at public speaking is by assessing how they act when they speak to you. Do you get the sense they’re passionate about the law? Do they make direct eye contact and annunciate their words? If not, keep searching for a lawyer with great speaking skills.
Authentic and Direct
Next, determine how authentic your lawyer appears to you. If your lawyer seems cheesy or fake to you, judges will likely also think they’re cheesy and fake. Instead, hold out until you find a lawyer who’s convincing and enjoyable to listen to.
10. Superb Writing Skills
Lastly, your workers’ compensation lawyer needs to have excellent writing skills. In the legal world, writing is the primary way that information about your case will be distributed and recorded.
Look for a lawyer who has clear and concise writing skills. It’s also important that your lawyer practices accuracy in all of the written documents they complete. If your lawyer’s writing skills are lacking in clarity or accuracy, all sorts of problems can arise.
For instance, if your lawyer doesn’t know how to write a compelling demand letter, the defendant won’t take your claim seriously. You’ll also want a lawyer that doesn’t make any mistakes when they’re drawing up a contract for you.
One of the ways to determine your lawyer’s writing skills is by sending them an email with a question. When you read their reply email, is it easy to understand? Or is their email scattered and confusing?
Stand up for Your Rights
Now you know about 10 traits to look for in a workers’ compensation lawyer. Remember, to ask potential lawyers about their experience winning cases like yours. Also, take the time to find a lawyer who makes you feel both valued and heard.
We hope that after reading this article, you’ll realize how important it is to have a qualified legal professional in your corner. For more articles like this one, check out the rest of this site.
