People usually choose a lawyer in a hurry: a contract must be signed this week, land must change hands, or a dispute has landed without warning. A short checklist keeps the choice sound even under time pressure.
What should you check before hiring an advocate?
- Qualification to practise , ensure the advocate is admitted and holds a current practising certificate; the Law Society of Kenya maintains records of members.
- Relevant specialisation , a conveyancer is not the natural choice for an arbitration, and vice versa.
- Experience with matters like yours, described honestly rather than in marketing terms.
- Who will actually handle your file day to day, and how quickly they respond.
- Conflicts of interest , ask whether the firm has acted for the other side.
- Clear fees, agreed in writing before work begins.
Does the size of the firm matter?
Both large and small practices serve clients well; what matters is the fit between your matter and the team. A complex transaction with several workstreams benefits from a firm with depth in each discipline, while a straightforward document may be handled efficiently by a smaller practice. Judge the firm on its answers to your questions, not on its size.
What questions should you ask at the first meeting?
Four questions cover most situations: what is the scope of work, what will it cost and how will billing work, what are the main risks, and what are the next steps with timelines. A capable advocate answers them plainly. If the answers are vague, or fees cannot be explained until “later”, keep looking.
Be alert to a few warning signs: demands for large cash payments without a receipt, reluctance to give a written fee estimate, promises about outcomes, and pressure to sign before you have read anything. A professional practice explains its terms patiently and puts its fees in writing without being pressed.
Our practice areas page sets out the work we handle, and the about page introduces our team, our office at The Mirage Tower 2 in Westlands, and how we manage client matters from first call to conclusion.
For guidance on your specific situation, contact CS Advocates LLP , call, WhatsApp, or book a confidential consultation at our Westlands, Nairobi office.