If you were doing a search online for the best Mexican restaurants in town, would you choose a 5-star restaurant or one with 2 stars?
If you needed to hire a mobile care detailing company – again – would you choose one with 5-stars or a company with 2 stars?
It’s the same thing when hiring an attorney – especially a criminal defense attorney in West Palm Beach.
Yet, the decision is much more important.
If you have a bad meal at a Mexican restaurant, you might be out $20. If you choose a criminal defense attorney who is not very good, you may spend time in prison. It’s why doing your homework before deciding on a criminal defense attorney really matters. If you don’t spend some time evaluating your options with lawyers who can help you, your entire life may change.
So how do you determine who might be a good lawyer for you?
Here are a few ways:
- How to find a good criminal defense attorney in West Palm Beach
- What to look for when hiring a criminal defense attorney
- When should you hire a criminal defense attorney?
- Why can a smaller criminal defense law firm be better for your case?
Another way is to research reviews of those attorneys you may be considering. If you find an attorney with a lot of positive reviews, that’s a good indication that they have helped other clients with similar issues to yours.
Positive reviews mean that:
- The attorney has built trust and credibility with previous clients
- Potential clients are better able to make informed decisions
- They have greater awareness within the local community
- They’ve differentiated themselves from competitors who are not as good
- The attorneys have created an emotional connection with their clients that have served the clients well
- Word-of-mouth recommendations generally means the lawyers are better performers
Positive reviews are crucial for a local criminal defense attorney for several reasons:
Positive Reviews Show Trust and Credibility
When potential clients search for a criminal defense attorney, they’re often facing a stressful situation and need someone they can trust. Positive reviews from previous clients act as social proof that an attorney is credible and competent. These reviews help establish reputation, showing prospective clients that others have had successful outcomes with your services.
Look for positive reviews on Google, Facebook, Avvo or Testimonials. The Florida Bar website and other online resources where reviews are collected.
Positive Reviews Helping You Make Informed Decisions
Potential clients want to feel confident about the attorney they choose. Positive reviews give them insight into what it’s like to work with the attorney – how they communicate, their responsiveness, their level of care and attention provided and the results they’ve achieved.
Reviews provide reassurance that they are making the right decision by choosing your firm. It’s important to actually read the reviews that are available. You’ll learn very quickly whether an attorney is better suited to your particular case or not.
Good Reviews = Greater Awareness
The main reason that you’re some attorneys more than others can have a lot to do with positive reviews. And those positive reviews are gained because the attorney has done well serving clients…and generally done so over a long period of time.
This positive feedback loop helps the attorney gain more clients and then those clients leave more reviews. Over time that builds trust that the attorney can be trusted and is at least worth talking to during a free consultation. This is especially important for criminal defense attorneys, as many people search for local legal help online when facing charges.
Differentiating from Competitors
In a crowded legal market, positive reviews help differentiate criminal defense attorneys from other attorneys. It becomes pretty simple to understand who is good, better and best among local lawyers.
Prospective clients may be comparing multiple lawyers, and a pattern of glowing reviews can set them apart from competitors who may have fewer or less favorable testimonials. Pay attention to those reviews – they may be the deciding factor when it comes time to hiring an attorney.
Look for Reviews That Show the Attorney Creating Emotional Connection with Their Clients
Look for reviews that highlight personal experiences – how did the attorney help someone through a tough time, provided reassurance or fought hard for their case.
That can create an emotional connection. Remember – first impressions are important. Read reviews as though you were the client. Does it resonate with you? Past clients’ opinions about how well they worked with an attorney can provide great insight.
This is especially powerful for a criminal defense attorney because clients are often dealing with fear and uncertainty.
Word-of-Mouth – Pay Attention
Positive online reviews act like digital word-of-mouth referrals. Prospective clients can tell pretty quickly who is a good attorney that they should call – or a not so good one that they should avoid. So when you’re evaluating attorneys, pay attention to the recommendations of others.
Establishing Trust and Standing Out
In the legal world, especially for criminal defense attorneys, trust and credibility are everything. Positive reviews not only establish that trust but also help firms stand out in a competitive local market. These are the firms that potential clients like yourself should be considering.
Remember – arrests are common in Palm County Florida, the legal consequences are serious, and having a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer is essential to protect your rights and achieve the best possible outcome.
If you were charged with a serious crime in West Palm Beach or anywhere in the state of Florida, please schedule a free consultation with The Pakett Law Group. You can call 561-318-0531 or email us here.
The Pakett Law Group, PA is committed to providing our clients with the highest quality representation. With over a decade of legal experience, West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyer Brian T. Pakett and his team of West Palm Beach criminal lawyers possess a comprehensive understanding of Florida criminal law – which can benefit you in your time of need.