When I grow up, I want to get married, I want to have my own business, I want to be rich, I want to buy a house. Words spoken by all of us at one time or the other throughout life. How about when I grow up, I want to have a good attorney. Words hardly ever spoken or thought about but should be just as aspiring to have.
For many people, a real estate transaction whether buying or selling is one of the largest investments they will ever make and having a lawyer is an integral part of that process. They are a required part of the team to accomplish your goal and tantamount to the air you breathe so to is having a good lawyer. Your lawyer will represent your interests with the buyer/seller as well as with the bank and other attorneys. They will ensure that your money is well invested in a property worth purchasing and that all expenses related to the property are satisfied prior to you taking ownership.
Let us imagine for a moment you have completed your property purchase, elated to be done with the process and someone approaches you saying this is my house.
Imagine your bank has paid out the money and you have begun paying your loan, you go to BPL to have the electricity in your new home turned on in your name and you are told it cannot be done until the previous balance is paid. Imagine you are outside cutting your grass, blissfully thinking about how blessed you are to finally own a “piece of the rock” in this beautiful Bahama land and your neighbour asks why are you cutting the grass on his side of the property? This may sound imaginary but are very real circumstances persons find themselves in after having a not so good attorney represent them.
“The good lawyer is not the man who has an eye to every side and angle of contingency, and qualifies all his qualifications, but who throws himself on your part so heartily, that he can get you out of a scrape.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
Choosing a great lawyer is essential because their knowledge and insight are heavily relied on to guide and direct you through some of the most significant decisions in your life. A good attorney should be knowledgeable and competent in the law to which they practice. Contrary to popular belief not all attorneys know every aspect of the law.
Just as you would not want your general doctor preforming heart surgery on you, lawyers have special areas of focus that they are best at. Although all attorneys are called to be ethical as apart of their mandate, some can be more careless and care less than others. Being ethical is a very crucial characteristic of a good attorney. Dealing with people is a skill not necessarily taught in law school but having an attorney who is courteous and accessible can turn them from being good to great.
It is important to remember that the lawyer will be representing you. They will be fighting for you and working as hard as they can to get you a fair result and therefore it is important that you get one that is good at their job.