Domestic violence is still a major problem in the United States, and the cases are increasing with every passing day. According to studies conducted in 2019, more than 24 people on average are becoming a victim of physical violence, stalking, or rape by their intimate partner every minute. Every year, more than 12 million women and men are becoming a victim of domestic violence, and it needs serious addressing. The scenarios are much worse for women as every 1 out of 10 men has been raped at least once by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
There are two main reasons behind sharing these numbers. The first one is that domestic violence is becoming very common, and society needs to take some serious steps in order to drop these numbers and create a safe environment for people in their homes. This can be done by educating people on what is appropriate in a relationship and where they need to draw a line. The second reason behind sharing these stats is that if you are going through something similar, you are not alone in it.
Most people hesitate to speak about their domestic violence experience and are going through it silently. There are many reasons why victims don’t come out immediately when they are facing domestic abuse. One of the main reasons behind it is that their partner makes them think that there is something wrong with them, and they are being punished for the mistakes they have committed. However, it doesn’t matter what the reason is, domestic violence is never ok, and the victim must speak about it as soon as possible. If you are afraid that things will get worse if you speak about it, then there is no need to worry about it because by hiring a qualified and experienced domestic violence attorney, you can get the justice you deserve.
With the increase in cases, the number of people who practice domestic violence law is also increasing. Today you can find thousands of domestic violence attorneys throughout the country, so there is no shortage. However, you shouldn’t hire the first attorney you come across. Before hiring an attorney, you need to make sure that you pick the right man for the job. If you end up hiring an attorney who doesn’t have enough experience or lacks the skill, then it would not. So make sure to hire a San Diego Domestic Violence Lawyer who is qualified and has a good experience. In this article, I have mentioned a few qualities that you must look for in a domestic violence lawyer. Let’s take a look:
Easily Available
This is one of the first things you need to look for in a domestic violence lawyer. If the lawyer is not available whenever you need him, then what is the point of hiring one? That is why it is strictly advised that you ask the lawyer about how many active cases he or she has. If they have too much on their plate, then you should ask them directly whether they will be able to give proper attention to your case or not. You have to make this decision carefully, and if you feel like the lawyer is too busy, then despite his reputation, you should look for an alternative. You must get a lawyer that doesn’t have too many clients at the moment and will be able to fight for you without anything holding them back.
Relevant Experience
The next thing you should look for in your lawyer is experience. If the lawyer has a good amount of experience, then he will be able to make a strong case for you. And I am not just talking about experience in any kind of law. The lawyer must be practicing domestic violence law for a good number of years. You don’t want to hire a lawyer that doesn’t have the relevant experience even when they have the right license and education. A lawyer who has experience will be able to assess your situation properly and would see any hurdle coming a long way. Also, an experienced lawyer is aware of the mistakes he had made in the past and will never make the same mistake twice. You cannot say the same thing for a lawyer who has only been practicing for a year two. Experienced lawyers are also more familiar with the court systems and can persuade the judges much better.
Should Empathize With Your Situation
You don’t just need to look for all these professional qualities in your lawyer, but you also need to see their human side. A good domestic violence lawyer is the one who doesn’t just take on your case for the sake of money but understands your situation well and empathizes with you. This is something extremely important, but a lot of victims don’t pay attention to this while hiring a lawyer. A lawyer that has empathy will not let you settle for any less. He or she will make sure that you get the best settlement possible and the partner who treated you awfully gets a fair punishment. The empathy will also push the lawyer to do everything in his power to get you the justice you deserve.
Good Track Record
Another important thing is the lawyer’s track record. If the lawyer you are hiring has a great track record and has won similar kinds of cases in the past, then there is a high chance that they will be able to win your case as well. Similarly, a lawyer who has a poor track record is more likely to lose your case. That is why you should make your decision wisely. Before finalizing a lawyer, you should ask them about their record. Ask them to tell you about the kind of cases he or she has won in the past and also the cases they lost. This will give you a good idea of whether they will be able to get you a win or not.
Enough Resources
Not all domestic violence cases are the same, and in some cases, complications can arise, which can burden both you and your lawyer. In such a case, if your lawyer doesn’t have enough resources, both of you are going to have a stressful time. That is why it is highly recommended you hire a resourceful lawyer. The lawyer might need people to help him with the case, and if he doesn’t already have someone working for him, he might charge you extra for that. If you are going for a lawyer who works with a big firm, then you won’t have to worry much about that because he will always have associates around him to assist him. However, if you are hiring a solo practitioner, make sure that they have a couple of qualified assistants or associates who can assist them with your case.
Logical Thinking
One of the most important qualities that many lawyers lack is the ability to think logically and deduce conclusions. American law system works in a funny way sometimes, and if there is a loophole in the case, then your lawyer must be able to find it. A lawyer that thinks logically will always entertain all the possibilities and will have a plan B and plan C under his belt. He will play this case like a game of chess and will always make his moves keeping the bigger picture in his mind. He will also treat the opposition counselor smartly because he knows establishing good communication with them can help him make a solid deal. So you must look for such smart lawyers.
Public Speaking Skills
If your case goes in front of the judge, you will need a lawyer that has great public speaking skills and knows how to communicate with the audience in the room effectively. When a lawyer addresses a court of the law, he must know how to express his emotions and convince the judges or the jury. A lawyer could be great with paperwork and research, but he might not be equally good at public speaking. You might not feel the need for this quality in the early stages of the case, but it can come in quite handy in the later parts. So it is wise to always go for such a lawyer.
Creativity
As mentioned before, not all the domestic violence cases are the same, and in some cases, a lawyer has to step out of the normal in order to make a point. Creativity is a vital skill, and if your lawyer lacks it, it can hurt your case. A lawyer must be able to come up with a unique solution for the problem at hand. Not everything is written in the book of the law, and sometimes, to get ahead of the opposition, a lawyer has to think out of the box. A creative lawyer will always find a way to make your case stronger.
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