WE'VE HAD quite a few requests for advice at THAILANDTIPS.COM from folks wanting to hire a lawyer in Thailand. And for all sorts of reasons... buying a condo, litigation to recover a debt, visa problems or something simple like drafting a rental contract.
I always believe you get what you pay for. And when it comes to choosing a Thai law firm, this old maxim certainly holds true. A prestigious Bangkok legal firm in the smart end of town -- with a team of high profile, experienced expat consultants on staff -- is going to cost you more, a lot more, than your freshly graduated Thai lawyer in the back streets of Buriram.
When selecting a lawyer many expats in Thailand would think of chosing a farang lawyer first, perhaps an expat from their own country. But it is important to note that foreign lawyers in Thailand are restricted in their activities by the Aliens' Occupations Act, the Lawyers Act and Alien Business Law. They cannot appear in court or practise Thai law.
If you want to pay for a farang lawyer's consulting fee, as well as the Thai lawyer's fee, that's fine. It's just my opinion, but in most situations, it would be cheaper to cut out the middleman and deal directly with a Thai practitioner.
Of course you will want your Thai lawyer to speak, read and write English fluently. That's a given. After that, the two most important factors are HONESTY and COMPETENCE.
It's no good having a Thai lawyer who is completely honest but incapable of looking after your interests. Or a smart, streetwise lawyer who is going to cheat you. And sometimes you need a lawyer who is discrete and has good connections with the Thai police and government authorities.
So how to find the right law firm? Checking their track record for helping farang clients is a must. Recommendations from your embassy and other expats in your community, plus referals and testimonials from previous clients would be a good start.
Best wishes from
Rick Armstrong (Publisher)
"THAILAND LIVING" e-magazine
http://www.ThailandTips.com
I always believe you get what you pay for. And when it comes to choosing a Thai law firm, this old maxim certainly holds true. A prestigious Bangkok legal firm in the smart end of town -- with a team of high profile, experienced expat consultants on staff -- is going to cost you more, a lot more, than your freshly graduated Thai lawyer in the back streets of Buriram.
When selecting a lawyer many expats in Thailand would think of chosing a farang lawyer first, perhaps an expat from their own country. But it is important to note that foreign lawyers in Thailand are restricted in their activities by the Aliens' Occupations Act, the Lawyers Act and Alien Business Law. They cannot appear in court or practise Thai law.
If you want to pay for a farang lawyer's consulting fee, as well as the Thai lawyer's fee, that's fine. It's just my opinion, but in most situations, it would be cheaper to cut out the middleman and deal directly with a Thai practitioner.
Of course you will want your Thai lawyer to speak, read and write English fluently. That's a given. After that, the two most important factors are HONESTY and COMPETENCE.
It's no good having a Thai lawyer who is completely honest but incapable of looking after your interests. Or a smart, streetwise lawyer who is going to cheat you. And sometimes you need a lawyer who is discrete and has good connections with the Thai police and government authorities.
So how to find the right law firm? Checking their track record for helping farang clients is a must. Recommendations from your embassy and other expats in your community, plus referals and testimonials from previous clients would be a good start.
Best wishes from
Rick Armstrong (Publisher)
"THAILAND LIVING" e-magazine
http://www.ThailandTips.com
