Is there a value to using a local lawyer? That depends. Is there any such thing as a home field/hometown advantage? That depends. A good lawyer is a good lawyer, no matter where they practice, no matter what court they appear before. Likewise, a bad lawyer is a bad lawyer, and no amount of home field or hometown advantage will make them good. What we're talking about is whether there is an advantage to having a good lawyer who regularly practices in front of a particular court, as opposed to a good lawyer who rarely if ever practices there. The answer is - usually. A local lawyer knows the local rules of the court (even though those don't exist officially, they do in reality). They know the personalities of the judges and court personnel. They know what behavior is rewarded and what is frowned upon. They are known to respect that court and they are, in turn, respected by the court, in short, they have street cred. Street cred is not determined by the physical address of the lawyer's office, but by what courts they appear in regularly. All things being equal, wouldn't you rather have a lawyer who knows their way around the court which will determine your future?
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