Finding a good lawyer in Thailand can bring you all sorts of problems and finding one when you need one is not a good idea. We will take you through some of the loop holes in the way to finding a good lawyer in Thailand.
In Thailand not many lawyers speak English and even fewer lawyers understand western or other culture. If you looking for a lawyer that speaks something like Arabic or Italian the selection will be even lesser.
English speaking lawyers in Thailand
You have some English speaking law firms in Thailand that is owned by foreigners but the actual law work is done by a Thai lawyer. These law firms always charge more than Thai lawyers off course since they provide a special service. But even if the English speaking lawyer understand you he or she can have problem telling the Thai lawyer the problem, it is lost in translation.
Powerful Lawyers
The Thai culture is similar to the Indian cast system with Hi so and Low so people and this also affect Thai lawyers. If you have a powerful lawyer on one side many lawyers will refuse the case because of the opponent he will face in court. He can also own the lawyer a favor or just know he will lose the case. When you present the case to the lawyer he might be very interested but when he learn who the opponent is he just stop answering your phone calls. Some powerful Thai lawyers charge 300 000 THB in advance just to take your case.
Thai Criminals Lawyers
If you looking for a criminal lawyer in a murder case for example then a powerful lawyer might be your only choice. A less powerful lawyer might be scared of the police or the prosecutor and I am sure you want someone that is strong by your side. A weak lawyer will just be run over by the police and you be better off fighting the battle yourself until court.
Foreign Embassies List of Lawyers
The embassy suggestions are not a quality mark and you should not think that just because they are on the list from the Embassy they are any good. I have many friends that picked lawyers from the Embassy lists and were just overprices and disappointed.
Different prices
I had a client that was quoted around 100 000 THB for a divorce case and it was an easy case. For the clients account I call the law association of Thailand and they said a divorce in Thailand should never cost more than about 30 0000 THB. Some lawyer he went to just said 100 000 THB in advance even if the case would maybe take a day in court and of the lawyers even said he will go to prison with no lawyer with him. Finally I advised him to only take me to the court and no lawyer for the first court days and the case were finished in less than two hours.
Having a good translator with you to the police, prosecute and court will be an advantage because in court the lawyer will have no time to translate and work in the same time. Thai court take no pause for your lawyer to translate they assume you understand Thai or should have a translator. If you want to know what’s going on all the time you need a Thai translator with you.
Please contact us if you need a translator/ interpreter in Thailand.
