Graduating from law school and passing the bar exam is a requirement to practice law.  However, new lawyers are generally woefully unprepared to actually represent clients.  There is no substitute for real world experience in all phases of representing clients in legal matters.  The most effective lawyers have many years of experience in representing clients in pre-litigation matters, a wide variety of creative settlements, both jury and bench trials at all levels, and both state and federal appeals.  Aggressive and effective representation coupled with thinking outside the box requires vast experience in many different situations.

2. Is the Lawyer Too Experienced?

Most people think a lawyer can never be too experienced.  Remember, a law firm is a business.  Like other businesses, positive referrals are critical to building a business.  Lawyers at the end of their career may not be as motivated or "hungry" to build their businesses as they approach retirement.  As such, the "sweet spot" regarding experience is to identify a lawyer with vast experience who is still in the midst of aggressively building his or her practice.