As for a foreigner who has legal problems, especially cases in the court, to be solved, how to retain a local lawyer is a big problem. In current Chinese legal environment, there attorneys, grassroots’ legal workers, in-house counsels of enterprises and government lawyers are practicing such legal business, and most of foreigners can’t distinguish them. But most of the so called lawyers can’t provide comprehensive legal service except attorneys. In a way, attorneys are real lawyers that clients need. If a real lawyer is needed, you’d better follow the guidelines as follows:
1. Seek the names of local law firms
Seeking the names of local law firms from internet, telephone number book or your local business partners.
2. Date a fixed time and visit the firm
Dating a fixed time with the firm in which you are interested, visiting the firm and checking the attorney’s practicing license, noticing the receiver’s introduction, asking the payment manner of retainer’s fee, and demanding some materials in English.
3. Meet your probable attorneys
Meeting with two or three your probable attorneys and discussing your cases with them to ascertain the experience and skill of your attorneys.
4. Contract with your agent ad litem in writing in both languages
The last but not the least, the charge can reflect the attorney’s strength and fame in a sense, but to a foreigner, the most important requirements for his attorney should be loyalty and diligence.