Should I Hire A Lawyer Who Says He Has An "In" With the Judge?
I talked to a lawyer about my automobile accident case and all he could talk about is his close relationship with the judge and how it would help me. It sounded like I might get a better recovery if I hired this lawyer. Should I?
Lawyers who say such things are scumbags. 99.9% of judges would never allow their personal feelings for a lawyer to directly affect the outcome of the case. To do so would be unethical, and 99.9% of judges would never consider acting in such a fashion.
It is true, of course, that judges tend to respect lawyers who are prepared, who show up to court on time, who understand law and court procedure, and who answer the judge’s questions directly and honestly. And judges, like every other human, would tend to more readily accept the word of a lawyer who earned respect than a lawyer who demonstrated that he or she was not entitled to respect. But disregard the facts or the law simply because of a personal relationship? No, folks, it rarely happens.
Finally, think about it this way: If you were a judge and learned that your lawyer “friend” was going around telling people that he or she could improperly influence you in a case, how would you feel about it?
No, stay away from this type of lawyer. Like the lawyer who evaluates a case too early, this lawyer is trying too hard to get your case and, at the end of the day, you are very likely to be disappointed in the service you actually receive.
