Are Credentials Important?
Credentials Are Earned Through Experience
You have heard that “experience is the best teacher.” That is true- there is no substitute for experience. After twenty five years of trying cases, I cannot imagine encountering a scenario I have not previously dealt with. It is absolutely essential that you select an attorney who knows what the inside of a court room looks like.
I became a Board Certified attorney in 1994. To achieve this credential, I was required to try 50 or more cases, and pass and 8 hour exam. I believe a lawyer now must try only 10 case to apply for this! Simply put, most cases settle these days and most lawyers don’t try them. I recently was in court with a fifteen year experienced lawyer who was trying his first jury trial. Obviously, you do not want to go to court with that lawyer.
Credentials Are Representative of Reputation
You want a lawyer who is very well- regarded by both the defense attorney and the judge. Over the course of my career, I have been selected for Best Lawyers in America, Tennessee SuperLawyers, the Mid South’s Best Attorneys and awarded the highest rating possible from Martindale.com and AVVO.
Defense attorneys know that my cases must be taken very seriously. The presence of a skilled lawyer translates into better results for you.
Legal Credentials Are From Results
A lawyer cannot obtain the above credentials I have by accident or by paying for them. They are earned through blood, sweat and tears. Through years of trying cases, taking depositions, and generally battling in the trenches, I have become recognized as one of the absolute best in my profession.
There are other attorneys who share a great number of the same credentials I do. However, there are far more who do not. You should always research your attorney’s credentials prior to hiring them. You have the freedom to choose whichever lawyer you want. Why wouldn’t you want someone with a track record of great results? After all, I don’t think most people would go to a restaurant or a hair stylist without a recommendation. Picking a lawyer is an infinitely more important choice. Don’t select a lawyer because there is a bikini model in the flashy television commercial.
Credentials are Extremely Important
Your attorney’s credentials are extremely important. I would go so far as to say you should never choose an attorney, or anyone else for that matter, based on a clever advertisement or flashy logo. Selecting an attorney is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. You are not seeking legal help, typically, because things are going great in your life. You are trying to find an attorney because you have a problem, a big problem, that you can’t handle on your own.
An attorney earns his reputation based on his experience, reputation and, most importantly, his results. A good reputation is not an accident.
Do your homework, check credentials and pick the best lawyer for your case.