Philadelphia Law Firms

What Makes a Good Philadelphia Law Firm?

If a client faces a lawsuit, criminal charge, settlement dispute, divorce petition, or even a matter with the probate, what should that client do? Simple

That Client Seeks to Hire a Lawyer

Specifically if in the state of Pennsylvania and living in the city of Philadelphia, finding the right lawyer is crucial. But what kind of lawyer?

After all, they aren’t a dime a dozen. They’re not all alike. It’s not like a client hiring a plumber for a leak in the basement. The legal industry is filled to the brim of very specialized individuals, but to make it even more complex, it all revolves around this basic fact:

It’s About the Kind of Philadelphia Law Firm or Office You’re Looking For

Now we’re getting knee-deep into this concept. Finding a little lawyer in Philadelphia takes a little bit more than just opening up the phone book. Nearly every street in the city has what are commonly called “law firms.” Sometimes they may be referred to as “law offices” or “law practices.”

But you wouldn’t believe that all Philadelphia law firms are incredibly unique, even ones under the same legal niche. Why?

There Are Two Kinds of Philadelphia Law Firms

1. There’s the “Small Local Office”

2. And There’s the “Huge Law Firm”

Those are terms we’re going to use, because quite frankly no term can be designated to stand for a given characteristic. In other words, a “firm” doesn’t have to be such based on the large size of the building and staff; likewise, an “office” isn’t necessarily ‘small.’

But to differentiate the two, that’s what we’re going to do: firm = big, office = small.

So those are your levels of choices when it comes to finding a lawyer. The question is this:

Which Kind of Philadelphia Law Firm Should I Choose – Big or Small?

In many ways, it’s sort of a trick question. Why? Because neither one is better than the other. It just so happens that some Philadelphia law firms are bigger than others; it doesn't necessarily mean that they’re ‘better’ or more experienced.

Take note of that.

You, however, can know the advantages of both types of Philadelphia law firms. So let’s start with the small kind….

The Advantages of the “Small Local Office”

You’re going to get an in-depth look on what is a good Philadelphia law firm on a small scale. Here are the advantages:

1. They’re Local

2. They’re Cheap

3. They’re More Personable

4. Very Hardworking

5. More Specialized

6. Love the Long-Term

First off, if you’re dealing with some form of the law in the state of Pennsylvania, it’s important to know that chances are you’ll be dealing with a state law. Not a federal law. It’s a gamble to say that, of course, but it’s a smart gamble. Most legal issues reside under the jurisdiction of the state.

It would then stand to reason that a client would want a Philadelphia law firm that’s local. Believe it or not, some of the larger firms spread their services around the country, sometimes all across the world, with offices in other locations. That’s to be expected with a large law firm, but not a little Philadelphia law firm, right?

The understanding, though, is if the Philadelphia law firms localize their services, they have a much better understanding of the state laws and much better experience handling those laws than any other big-time office in the legal industry.

In addition, smaller Philadelphia law firms are somewhat cheaper than the larger offices for obvious reasons – less staff to pay, less expenses to pay. Typically lawyers charge three different ways –

1. Retainer Fee

2. Contingency Fee

3. Hourly Rate

You’ll find a better chance of landing the hefty “retainer” fee at large firm with multiple offices, adding to that a sizeable hourly rate for work done in the courtroom. However, chances are that a good small law office in a tiny corner of a street in the downtown area of Philadelphia may only charge a smaller hourly rate, plus a contingency fee for settlement cases. And that’s it. It’s a pretty good deal.

Plus lawyers in small offices tend to create more of a business “relationship” with clients; whereas maybe some of those mediocre massive skyscraper law firms are more interested in building business “contracts.”

In other words, small-time lawyers love to know their clients well. It helps with understanding their perspectives, understanding their situations, basically understanding them.

Because they operate in such small offices, they generally tend to work harder, especially when it means the retention of a client. Losing a client for a small office is a big disaster; whereas a large firm won’t hurt much over it.

And another reason why such offices will work on a small scale is that they can hone their knowledge and skill on a given niche – such as divorce cases. It’s a sure bet that a client would want to go with a smaller office that specifically handles divorce cases over a larger firm that does have a ‘department’ for that specific genre.

So Are We Saying That the Larger Firms Aren’t Any Good? On the Contrary….

There are definitely advantages, and knowing those advantages can help any client sort out the ‘good’ ones from the ‘bad’ ones. Look for….

1. Easy Operation and Teamwork

2. Better Overall Experience

3. Outstanding Track Records

4. Better Overall Understanding of How the Law Works

5. And Better Resources and Technology

First off, know this: nothing says effectiveness like a lawyer who’s overworked. Be careful with any attorney in a small office who already has way too much on the plate. If you’re going to hire an attorney, hire one that can devote his or her entire attention to your case.

That’s one benefit to an attorney working in a larger firm. That attorney has tremendous resources to help with any case –

1. Legal Assistants

2. Paralegals

3. Legal Interns

4. Mail Room Attendants

5. Writers

6. Jury Pickers

There’s a lot that can go into the workings of a case in a large firm. It’s all about teamwork. And the more people putting their heads together, the better.

This, of course, can mean better track records in the courtroom, better overall understanding of every piece of the law, and then of course better technology!

It’s almost a no-brainer to pick a large firm, because a client will know that such a firm knows exactly what they’re doing.

So What Makes a Good Philadelphia Firm?

Consider the advantages. And then make the decision for yourself. It all depends on your needs and your case.