What does being a lawyer in Israel mean?
In Israel, the lawyer is an officer of the court representing a client, but still an officer of the court (Ktsin Beit Hamishpat).
A lawyer must follow the State Laws, the court’s rules, the bar’s rules and represent his client with good faith – it may sound easy, but it is indeed a very difficult task that lawyers perform on a daily basis.
Finding a Lawyer Who You Can Trust
What makes people believe and trust in a lawyer they don’t know? Here are a few factors from a recent poll:
Recognizable Name: A famous lawyer with a name that people have heard before can certainly be a factor. This is why some famous lawyers in Israel hire public relations companies – beware.
Fancy Office: Some people are impressed with law firms that have fancy offices. Beware that these can be extremely expensive (someone must pay for the fancy office), and paying more doesn’t necessarily result in better service.
Multiple Locations: It is understandable that choosing a lawyer with a location that’s convenient for you can be important, but should the fact that s/he claims to have branches all over the country (such as in Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem) be a relevant decision point? Keep in mind that in this day and age, anyone can rent temporary or shared office space or have multiple “home” offices located in property owned by family and friends. And if the firm really does have multiple offices, will that in any way provide you with better service?
Language Fluency: Some people believe a lawyer is a good lawyer simply because s/he is fluent in their native language. Keep in mind that no matter how many languages a lawyer may be fluent in, what matters in the Israeli courtroom is that s/he is fluent in Hebrew and fully knowledgeable in Israeli law and the Israeli mannerism in court.
Long Client List: Choosing a lawyer because s/he claims to be very busy with many clients can lead to disaster if s/he doesn’t have the necessary time available to dedicate to your case. More important is that lawyer’s track record of winning cases for those clients.
Specialty vs. Full-Service: Some people will choose a lawyer or firm that provides “full-service” without considering that their personal situation dictates the need for a lawyer with a specialty. For example, a party charged with criminal activity needs a lawyer who specializes in – and has a strong track record of winning – criminal cases. It is amazing how naïve and even careless people can be when choosing a criminal attorney. A criminal case is not just a case, it could influence your entire life and jeopardize your success in the future.
What is a “good lawyer”?
What determines that someone is a good attorney? What are the requirements?
The question is flawed! The correct question should be “who is the best lawyer for you“? Because for a lawyer, as much as s/he cares, the case is still just a case – but for you (the client) the case affects your life!
You need to trust and be trusted by the attorney, you must be sure s/he understands you and you understand him/her.
When I say understand, it is not only the language but also mainly the needs (your needs), what is good for you. And remember, you are hiring this lawyer because you believe s/he can help you, therefore, allow him/her to guide you!
A lawyer may be part friend, part shrink, and sometimes will tell you things that you don’t want to hear. Sometimes the news is good, other times it may be bad – or it may be a little of both. Your lawyer must always be on your side, and as a result you should consider him/her your ally and not an enemy, even if his manner is not always polite, or he doesn’t answer your calls immediately, or when you disagree with him.
In closing, a good lawyer will carefully weigh the facts, and if s/he doesn’t believe your case can have the outcome you desire, a good lawyer will tell you the truth and decline your case and your money.
