No one can argue with the power of the legal industry. Almost every major decision you make will have to be backed up by an attorney, which is why the industry continues to change each year. However, the changes have been in different areas and in only specific niches. What do I mean by niches? Here are just a few:
· Real estate
· Immigration
· Personal injury
· Criminal
· Etc.
With the growth of certain industries, lawyers are making more than ever before, however, this also means stricter rules going forward. Here’s what I’d like to discuss today because I think if you understand how the profession is changing, then it’ll help you do two things:
First, if you are going into the legal industry, you’ll choose to become a specific lawyer compared to another. Next, you know what to expect in regard to fees because as some industries grow, then you have more beginners, intermediate level professionals, and professionals. This means you have different fee brackets, but those that are dominated by very few means you’ll pay double or triple you once did. Anyway, let’s see how the industry has changed in recent years so you have a better understanding going forward.
The Impact in 2015
The industry is becoming much tougher especially because of unlawful acts by several lawyers. If you type in any legal phrase adding “criminal conduct”, you’ll be able to find a handful of posts about how lawyers have been taking advantage of clients. However, the government has stepped in and they now require stricter requirements when taking on clients. Many of them will be rooted in transfer of money, escrow, how many clients you can handle, and what information you must provide them before customers hire you. However, you still continue to see a huge impact in 2015, but this started 1-2 years ago. For example,
No matter where you are studying, you are required to take more exams. I remember when I was speaking with a lawyer years back who studied within the United Kingdom and he had mentioned how he only needed to take 3 exams before taking his bar in Toronto. Nowadays, some lawyers are expected to take anywhere from 5-6 examinations and the waiting period is much longer as well.
Many of the industries are changing, however, this really depends where you are located. For example, if you have growth within business in a city then you know business lawyers will grow, too. The same will apply to real estate lawyers as people begin to buy more property within a city or state. In 2015, as a result of the interest rate dropping and with people investing more money in real estate, you’ve seen a huge increase in real estate lawyers here in Toronto. I believe the same can be said for other cities and states as this is usually a universal effect.
How about how we hire lawyers?
This has been a topic for discussion for some time and we know have the resources to make decisions based on reviews and word of mouth. Because the profession has become very competitive, many lawyers are offering FREE consultations to attract clients. It’s a great way to definitely build the relationship, but this doesn’t mean they are experienced attorneys. I would recommend always performing a search online to see what others are saying. For example, I can start by searching within my area by typing “immigration lawyer Toronto”, then see what comes up. You’ll find a bunch of websites that do provide reviews and I encourage all of you to take a look. Then you can choose names and do a more targeted search to see what comes up.
This is great way to find out more about the lawyer and will help you avoid making a decision based on a free consultation. Next,
Referrals through friends and family is always a great way to find a reliable lawyer, however, you should still ask the right questions to make sure what type of lawyer you’re actually getting. For example,
Each case is different so will have different requirements and this is why you should create a list of questions relevant to your case. This is NOT difficult because all you have to do is write down what’s important to you and then bring it to your consultation. By doing this, you are increasing the chances of making sure the lawyer you have chosen is right for you. If you have a handful of consultations, then you can ask the same questions then go through your comfort level with each lawyer. You can hire the one who has answered all your questions correctly and you feel will do the job the right way.
Hiring a lawyer can be tough because it’s not cheap, but with the right referrals and questions, you can find someone who is perfect for the job. The future of lawyers is great especially because the industry continues to grow. You’ll also need a lawyer, no matter what, which is another reason the industry continues to grow.
· Real estate
· Immigration
· Personal injury
· Criminal
· Etc.
With the growth of certain industries, lawyers are making more than ever before, however, this also means stricter rules going forward. Here’s what I’d like to discuss today because I think if you understand how the profession is changing, then it’ll help you do two things:
First, if you are going into the legal industry, you’ll choose to become a specific lawyer compared to another. Next, you know what to expect in regard to fees because as some industries grow, then you have more beginners, intermediate level professionals, and professionals. This means you have different fee brackets, but those that are dominated by very few means you’ll pay double or triple you once did. Anyway, let’s see how the industry has changed in recent years so you have a better understanding going forward.
The Impact in 2015
The industry is becoming much tougher especially because of unlawful acts by several lawyers. If you type in any legal phrase adding “criminal conduct”, you’ll be able to find a handful of posts about how lawyers have been taking advantage of clients. However, the government has stepped in and they now require stricter requirements when taking on clients. Many of them will be rooted in transfer of money, escrow, how many clients you can handle, and what information you must provide them before customers hire you. However, you still continue to see a huge impact in 2015, but this started 1-2 years ago. For example,
No matter where you are studying, you are required to take more exams. I remember when I was speaking with a lawyer years back who studied within the United Kingdom and he had mentioned how he only needed to take 3 exams before taking his bar in Toronto. Nowadays, some lawyers are expected to take anywhere from 5-6 examinations and the waiting period is much longer as well.
Many of the industries are changing, however, this really depends where you are located. For example, if you have growth within business in a city then you know business lawyers will grow, too. The same will apply to real estate lawyers as people begin to buy more property within a city or state. In 2015, as a result of the interest rate dropping and with people investing more money in real estate, you’ve seen a huge increase in real estate lawyers here in Toronto. I believe the same can be said for other cities and states as this is usually a universal effect.
How about how we hire lawyers?
This has been a topic for discussion for some time and we know have the resources to make decisions based on reviews and word of mouth. Because the profession has become very competitive, many lawyers are offering FREE consultations to attract clients. It’s a great way to definitely build the relationship, but this doesn’t mean they are experienced attorneys. I would recommend always performing a search online to see what others are saying. For example, I can start by searching within my area by typing “immigration lawyer Toronto”, then see what comes up. You’ll find a bunch of websites that do provide reviews and I encourage all of you to take a look. Then you can choose names and do a more targeted search to see what comes up.
This is great way to find out more about the lawyer and will help you avoid making a decision based on a free consultation. Next,
Referrals through friends and family is always a great way to find a reliable lawyer, however, you should still ask the right questions to make sure what type of lawyer you’re actually getting. For example,
Each case is different so will have different requirements and this is why you should create a list of questions relevant to your case. This is NOT difficult because all you have to do is write down what’s important to you and then bring it to your consultation. By doing this, you are increasing the chances of making sure the lawyer you have chosen is right for you. If you have a handful of consultations, then you can ask the same questions then go through your comfort level with each lawyer. You can hire the one who has answered all your questions correctly and you feel will do the job the right way.
Hiring a lawyer can be tough because it’s not cheap, but with the right referrals and questions, you can find someone who is perfect for the job. The future of lawyers is great especially because the industry continues to grow. You’ll also need a lawyer, no matter what, which is another reason the industry continues to grow.