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Calling on the services of a tax lawyer may be necessary to deal with a tax audit, to prepare a succession or to manage companies abroad. The tax firm will act as your guide and advisor, representing you throughout the process. But this means entrusting your tax lawyer with confidential, even personal, information. This raises the question of trust. How do you choose the right tax lawyer? How can you establish a relationship of trust with your tax law firm? Here are the criteria to consider when choosing the best tax firm!
5 criteria to consider when choosing a tax lawyer
A tax lawyer's main aim is to defend your interests while complying with current tax regulations. A tax lawyer must advise you, assist you and, if necessary, defend you. Here is a list of things to consider before choosing a tax lawyer.
Bar admission
The first essential criterion is that your tax lawyer must be a member of the bar, like Maître Sion who is a member of the Marseille bar, for example. You can therefore consult the directory of the bar in the city you're interested in to find information about the firm and check that the lawyer specializes in tax law. Do not hesitate to ask about the lawyer's track record, previous cases, etc.
Note that a certificate of specialization must attest to a lawyer's particular skills, and this is the case for tax law. To obtain this certificate, the lawyer must undergo a minimum of 10 hours training per year, and must validate his or her skills before a jury. The certificate is issued by the "Conseil National des Barreaux" in France.
It should be noted that lawyers can go further and obtain a specific qualification in their area of specialization. For example, a lawyer can focus on two of the 26 specializations, including tax law... He will then be authorized to display a "specialist" badge on his website and in his communication media! This is another criterion to check, which will validate the skills of your tax lawyer.
Experience
Related to this, experience is indeed an important dimension in the tax world. It will enable you to choose the right strategy, and it will help you during negotiations to settle any tax disputes or reassessments. Even if "true value does not need the test of time", experience in the tax field can sometimes be seen as a guarantee of the efficiency of a tax law firm, and may have enabled the development of an extensive professional network.
Reputation
Beyond experience and years at the bar, the firm's reputation and notoriety are important. You may well ask your tax lawyer for references, contacts of previous cases successfully handled, or simply ask friends and family for references of tax lawyers who have helped them in the past. Word-of-mouth is a key element in the choice of a tax lawyer, even if you then have to get the word out...
Your feelings on your first appointment
Even if the lawyer comes highly recommended, or has a very good reputation, nothing will ever replace your gut feeling. Are you comfortable enough with this tax lawyer to entrust him with sensitive information? Remember, you're probably going to be working with this tax specialist for a long time, and you'll be putting a good part of your life in his hands. So you might as well feel confident!
Fees
In general, tax lawyers charge by the hour, a rate that can vary drastically from one to another, but Cabinet Sion Avocat has decided to offer a tailor-made legal subscription adapted to each case. This will avoid any surprises, and an estimate will be drawn up in advance, taking into account the specific features of your case, to avoid any fee overruns. Alternatively, a standard fee agreement can be drawn up, detailing the exact assignment, the means employed and the time spent. And, in many cases, the remuneration can be, in part, incentivized by the result, so that the lawyer wins with you...
Establishing a relationship of trust with your tax lawyer
In addition to the five criteria mentioned above, a relationship of trust is essential when working with your tax lawyer. Nothing should be omitted, neither weak points nor possible mistakes, and it is essential to pass on all the details of your case. Don't be afraid of leaking information: your tax lawyer is bound by professional secrecy, and bear in mind that this relationship of trust goes both ways. In fact, your lawyer will rely on the veracity of the information to develop his or her strategy, and must therefore also trust you.
In conclusion, as you will have understood, choosing a tax lawyer is no easy task, and we have given you the criteria you need to check to be sure of yourself. If you think you need a tax expert you can trust, contact Cabinet Sion Avocat, tax lawyer in Marseille and online!
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