Match the specialisation to the dispute

Litigation in Pakistan is specialised in practice even where it is not formally so. A lawyer who appears daily in family courts is not automatically the right choice for a banking recovery suit or a tax appeal. Ask directly how many matters of your type they have handled in the last year.

Ask about the forum

Find out which courts the lawyer actually appears in. Familiarity with the forum, its registry and its practice directions saves real time. A case filed correctly the first time avoids months of objections.

Insist on fee clarity

Get the fee arrangement in writing: what is covered, what is charged separately, what happens if the matter settles early, and what applies on appeal. Ask for an estimate of court fees and out-of-pocket expenses.

Be wary of guaranteed outcomes

No lawyer can guarantee a result. A confident assessment of strengths and weaknesses is professional; a promise of victory is a warning sign. So is a lawyer who will not tell you the weak points of your own case.

Communication and records

Agree at the outset how you will be updated and how often. Keep copies of every document you hand over, and ask for copies of everything filed on your behalf. Most client complaints are about communication, not competence.