WHY HIRE A LAWYER WITH SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE

The legal profession has different specializations, such as criminal, injury, and family law. Some lawyers handle cases in different legal specializations, while others specialize in specific areas. Your lawyer will tell you whether they can handle your case during the consultation. However, consulting a specialized lawyer has several benefits over consulting a general lawyer.

Below are some reasons to consider a specialized lawyer.

Familiarity With Local Judges

A specialized lawyer understands the local courts, prosecutors, and judges better than a generalist does. For example, a family lawyer probably understands the judges who usually handle divorce cases better than a personal injury lawyer does. The knowledge comes from the numerous family law cases that the lawyer has handled over the years.

Intimate knowledge of the local court means the specialized lawyer:

• Understands how the judges rule on certain cases
• How much leeway the judge can allow those in their courtrooms

That way, the lawyer can better prepare their strategies to give you the best outcome possible. For example, say your family lawyer understands that a certain judge has extremely unfavorable views of parents who don't have time for their kids. Your lawyer can use the information to strengthen your custody battle by presenting strong evidence of your childcare history.

Adequate Relevant Experience

Experience plays a significant role in legal practice. Some of the things lawyers learn with experience include:

• Improving interpersonal relationships with clients
• Dealing with bureaucracy in court
• Negotiating cases, such as plea deals

A lawyer's experience is even better if it comes from the same area of law. A specialized lawyer:

• Has a good understanding of local statutes that affect their legal area
• Has specific experiences that are not easy to get in other legal areas
• Understands the typical red flags of cases in their legal area

For example, a personal injury lawyer of ten years probably has better negotiation skills than an estate-planning lawyer of ten years. Personal injury cases involve more negotiation than estate planning.

Another example is a family lawyer may spot signs of hidden assets easier than a criminal lawyer could, even if both have practiced law for the same number of years. Hidden assets are common in divorce cases.

A criminal lawyer is also likely to have more courtroom experience than estate planning lawyers.

In short, specialization gives lawyers extensive experience within a short time.

Abundant and Relevant Contacts

Lawyers require more than skills and experience to prevail for their clients. Your lawyer will also rely on their contacts and relationship with other professionals your case may need. For example, some cases need expert witnesses or private investigators. A specialized lawyer may get the right expert faster than a generalist can.

For example, an experienced medical malpractice lawyer already has many expert witness contacts. The lawyer has probably worked with such witnesses in the past. Thus, the medical malpractice lawyer doesn't need to start hunting for, interviewing, and vetting expert witnesses every time they have a case. The available contacts and working relationships save you time and money.

Peace of Mind

Legal cases are expensive and worrisome for many people. The more serious your case, the more is at stake, and the more you are likely to worry. Extreme worry is bad for your health, relationships, and even work. Hiring a specialized lawyer is one way of dealing with the worry. You may be able to rest easy knowing that your case is in the hands of the right person.

Spooner & Perkins, P.C., specialize in workers' compensation and injury law. We have been active in this industry for decades. You can rely on us to pursue your rights and compensation aggressively. Contact us for a free initial consultation to review your case and determine the way forward.