Need a local Bay Area lawyer? Here are five things to think about when hiring a lawyer local to the Bay Area. When looking for a good lawyer you want to find one that is well educated, legally competent, tactically and strategically sound and charismatic. But, when looking for a lawyer local to the Bay Area there are a few other characteristics to consider as well.

Why Hire A Local Bay Area Lawyer

The key strength of hiring a local Bay Area lawyer is that he or she has deep roots in the community and therefore has a lot of good connections. A good lawyer, in many respects, is the sum of his or her connections. So if you are looking for a lawyer in the Bay Area then you want a local Bay Area lawyer with good connections with the community and not a transplant from another city or state. But, how do you define a local Bay Area lawyer. The following characteristics will help you determine if a lawyer can really be considered a local Bay Area lawyer or just a transplant. There are no hard and fast rules. These characteristics are just things to think about when interviewing a Bay Area lawyer for your case.

A Bay Area Lawyer Summed Up In Five Points

1. To be considered a Bay Area lawyer a lawyer should have grown up in the Bay Area, the surrounding area or at least in the county area. A lawyer that grew up in the Bay Area or its surrounding areas is more likely to have stronger and deeper roots in the community. They are more likely to have contacts with childhood friends. People that have known each other for a long time are more likely to work amicably with each other no matter the side of the situation they are on.
2. If a lawyer did not grow up in the Bay Area I wouldn’t consider them a local Bay Area lawyer until they have lived in Bay Area for at least five years. How long does it take to build good working relationships? How long does it take to build loyalty and comradery with your colleagues?
3. Did the lawyer you are thinking about hiring go to law school in the Bay Area? Locally here would mean ‘nearest’. It is not as important to get a four year degree locally. But, going to law school locally in the Bay Area and clerking for local judges or interning with local firms really goes a long way in building local connections. So, in my opinion if you are looking for a good local Bay Area lawyer, having gotten a law degree locally will be a strong characteristic that I would be looking at.
4. What fraternity or sorority was he or she a member of? If they were not a member of a fraternity or sorority it does not mean they are a bad lawyer. It just means they may not have as many connections as the next Bay Area lawyer. Many people that join fraternities and sororities make friends for life and feel very loyal to other members. Fraternity and sorority connections can be very strong.
5. Are they socially active in the Bay Area. A good lawyer will be active in local politics, charities, or something else. How does this affect your decision to hire a particular lawyer? In my opinion the more and broader array of people that a lawyer knows the better off you are. So a good Bay Area lawyer will be active in the local Bay Area community. It is not good enough for a Bay Area lawyer to know a lot of people in and around the community. He or she must have built up a good rapport with them as well. A good Bay Area lawyer will have a good rapport with many different people in the community. He or she does not have to be a pillar of the community they just have to be well known and liked in the community.

So when you are looking for a local Bay Area lawyer keep in mind these five characteristics. They are only meant as a guide to help you determine whether or not a lawyer has enough local community clout to be affective for you. These characteristics are just the obvious indicators of opportunities to build contacts that can be used to help you win your case. And that is what it all boils down to, does a specific lawyer have enough local connections in the San Francisco community to be considered a local Bay Area lawyer or just a transplant.