Not sure what to look for in a private investigator? We present the following outstanding article; while it was initially written for attorneys, the same strategy should apply to every potential investigations client:

CHOOSING AN EXCELLENT PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR

To effectively advocate a client’s position, one of the many important decisions an attorney will make is to hire a competent private investigator. Private investigators uncover the truth and collect facts in a variety of ways: surveillance may uncover evidence of a malingering insurance claimant, provide crucial evidence in child custody matters or expose dishonest business partners; background investigations and advanced data mining techniques are essential components of due diligence and the discovery of complex associations; skip tracing determines the whereabouts of missing witnesses, family members or those who cannot be located for service and field interviews with recorded statements save time and money when preparing for potential civil litigation or a criminal defense trial.  Obviously, skilled private investigators do so much more than “the basics” and offer a considerable array of additional services too.  I believe that everyone in the legal field would agree that an experienced and professional investigator can oftentimes mean the difference between a successful outcome for your client or a crushing verdict in the courtroom.

As an experienced and tenured paralegal, and now office manager for a highly regarded  private investigations agency, I have a great deal of experience is choosing investigators with whom to work and would like to provide you with four critical qualities to consider prior to selecting a private investigation agency when the need arises:

Licensing and Insurance. Unless an investigator is actually in the employ of your law firm, many states require a license to practice private investigation and have a strict set of requirements that both investigators and agencies must meet in order to acquire licensing.  A very few states still do not require state licensing for private investigators, so choose investigators in these states carefully.And while it may not be required by law, ensure that the agency you select maintains a professional liability insurance policy with errors and omissions coverage.  This will help to insulate you and your client in instances where an investigator is accused of professional negligence, not to mention that carrying industry specific insurance is the hallmark of being a committed professional.

Experience and Background. As an example, while the state of Arizona requires a comprehensive background check and conducts professional experience verification before issuing a state PI license, it is not uncommon when working assignments in other states to find that the investigator working on behalf of the other party has had no professional experience, or is a “part timer” at best, and it is often very easy to exploit their work product to our advantage.  Verify references, credentials, work experience, educational background and additional industry-specific training received.  Private investigation is a profession in which experience, training and resourcefulness matter most!  Lastly, contact other attorneys and other professionals who have used private investigators and obtain recommendations; there is no substitute for a referral! Nearly all of our new cases come from either an attorney referral or recommendation by a past customer.

Communication. Time is critical! Does the investigator answer the phone or provide a means to reach him or her at key times?Do they return calls in a timely manner and keep meetings?  Request written communication or a report sample; is it professional, organized and free of errors? What does the investigator’s website say? Does it portray professionalism and communicate a message with which you are comfortable being associated?

Ethics. Ethics is acting with an realization of the call for complying with policy, such as State and Federal law, the traditions and expectations of the public, the values of honesty, the policies of the company and such general concerns as the needs of others and fairness.   Ethics gives us a model with which to make decisions and a method to evaluate other people’s behavior as well.  It is this concept of judging others that ethics becomes the foundation for professional conduct and therefore, inseparable from our profession. What your investigator does and says will ultimately be a reflection upon you.

Quality investigators can be uncommon; however, if you follow these straightforward guidelines and incorporate common sense, you may just find a perfect partnership with a professional investigations agency that will become the basis of your own legal dream team.

Good luck to you!

For more information on this and other Private Investigation Topics, visit http://www.intelfirst.com/blog

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