How to check an attorney has real expertise in the area you need

Most people hiring an attorney for a specific area of law assume the letterhead tells them everything. A name on the roll and a fancy office don't mean someone is actually skilled in what you need — intellectual property is a universe away from employment law, and a conveyancer shouldn't be steering you through a complex tax dispute. The cost of getting this wrong is steep: a shallow opinion, missed detail, or advice that doesn't fit your industry can leave you exposed and out of pocket.

Verifying real expertise takes five minutes of purposeful checking. It's not about doubting people; it's about matching the person to the problem.

Search the roll and spot the specialism

Start with the Law Society of South Africa's roll search. Any working attorney must be registered, but the roll alone doesn't tell you what they know. What helps is reading their profile on firm websites or legal directories — they'll usually state their practice areas and years in each one. Look for specificity, not breadth. If their bio says "commercial, property, employment, family and dispute resolution," they're likely a generalist. If it says "property transfer and bond matters" or "employment disputes with focus on retrenchment," you're getting closer. The more niche and detailed the claim, the more believable it is.

Ask directly: "Can you tell me which aspects of [your area] you focus on, and for how long?" Listen for concrete answers. Someone who says "I've been doing employment law for fifteen years, but my practice is 70% unfair dismissal claims" is giving you useful shape. Someone vague should raise a flag.

Ask for proof, not promises

Expertise lives in the work they've actually done. Request references — specifically, a few clients (or former clients) who've had similar matters. When you call them, ask: "Did this attorney understand your industry?" "Were they clear about the limits of what they could help with?" "Did the outcome match what you were advised?" A reference who hesitates or gives a lukewarm answer is as telling as a silent phone.

If your matter is technical — say, tax, medical negligence, or complex commercial dispute — ask the attorney for a sample of their written work. They won't send you a confidential client brief, but they can often share a de-identified example or an opinion on a similar issue. Reading their reasoning, how they structure an argument, and how carefully they hedge tells you far more than any CV.

Check for ongoing learning and credentials

Specialised law moves fast. Intellectual property law, aviation law, or financial services law change constantly. Ask whether the attorney is active in professional forums, publishes articles, or holds advanced qualifications. A fellow of the Law Society, membership of a specialist association, or a well-known postgraduate qualification in their field is a marker. These aren't essential — plenty of excellent practitioners don't publish — but they suggest someone staying sharp.

Listen to how they scope the work

When you brief an attorney, notice whether they ask detailed questions about your industry, your risk tolerance, and the specific outcome you're after. Someone who listens and asks follow-ups before quoting is likely thinking through whether they can actually help. Someone who starts talking fees immediately, or who promises certainty, deserves caution.

After the conversation, send them an email summarising what you've said and what you're asking for. If they correct you, clarify, or ask more, they're working properly. If they echo it back unchanged, they may not have dug deep enough.

Getting the right attorney from the start saves time and money. When you're ready to compare verified specialists in your area of law on Strove, you'll have the confidence to ask these hard questions and spot the difference between a name and real depth.