Finding the best lawyer in Thailand is something that everyone having legal problems here looks for. There are a few factors that come into play when selecting the best legal team in Thailand, including technical expertise (how much the lawyers know about Thai law), reliability (the lawyers do what they say they will do), and price (how much the lawyers charge for their work). Some of the most common mistakes that people make when selecting a lawyer in Thailand include going with the cheapest option. There are countless Thai lawyers who promise easy solutions and cheap prices for their services. However, these people are rarely able to do much at all for your case. In this post, the Thailand Bail team examines what qualities make up a good legal team in Thailand. Hopefully, this information will help you in your search for a good legal team for your case or the case of your family member or friend.

Technical expertise is the most important aspect of a good lawyer or law firm in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, or the rest of Thailand. We have been surprised to hear stories from clients who previously had other lawyers working on their cases, who did not even have a basic understanding of Thai law, specifically criminal defense law. How can this be? One of the reasons why some Thai lawyers do not know much about the law is that the educational standards for Thai lawyers are lower than those in most Western countries.

Consider the United States as an example; those who wish to pursue a career in law must first complete some sort of undergraduate degree, preferably with a concentration of classes that would comprise a “pre-law” program. After completing 4 years of undergraduate school, these students then must score well on the LSAT law examination in order to be admitted into a law school. By the time students leave law school in the US, they have several years of academic and real-world experience. In contrast, Thai lawyers must only complete a 4-year undergraduate program in Thailand. They are then licensed attorneys. While educational background does not always equate to technical ability, it is a good indication. Thailand Bail’s advice: ask your Thai lawyer if he or she has passed the series of bar exams to become a barrister.

Another aspect of a good lawyer in Thailand is whether or not the lawyers will do what they say they will do. Anyone with experience working with Thai lawyers knows that they often agree to do something but they do not follow through. Or, if they do what they say, it takes them weeks or months to complete it. This sort of sluggishness in response time is unacceptable for criminal defense cases, where a couple of days can make a huge difference. Finding a law firm with some sort of international case specialist or associate can help ensure that things are done and also done on a “Western” time schedule. Thailand Bail’s advice: find a law firm that follows up with you with updates on your legal matter.

Finally, but not least in importance, is price. There is a wide range of pricing from Thai law firms, so it important to be aware of a few things. Some people think they can just get the cheapest Thai lawyer in Bangkok, Phuket, or Pattaya to handle their case.

However, you must ask yourself what sort of service and are you are going to receive for that paltry price. We have never had a Thai lawyer who charges less than we do complete anything they say they will do. This lack of follow-through is frustrating and can cause severe issues for defendants. In the other hand, some families go for one of the huge international law firms, charging higher than lawyers do back home in the West. However, it is important to remember who this firm will actually assign to do the work and handle your case – some Thai lawyer making a small salary at the firm. Once you realize this, it is hard to justify paying 15,000 THB / hour for a law firm. Thailand Bail’s advice: find a small but reliable international law firm who understand your legal needs and charges reasonable, professional prices for their services.

We hope this article has helped you think about the search for a good Thai lawyer, whether you are in Bangkok or somewhere else in Thailand. We have designed our law firm to be experts in our field of bail and criminal law, responsive to what needs to be done, and affordable. For a more in-depth conversation about how Thailand Bail has positioned itself in the legal industry in Thailand, please contact Thailand Bail and send a question for us to respond to.