Top Tips for Choosing a Family Lawyer
Selecting a family lawyer can be a challenge. The right candidate can make a huge difference not only in the results of your case but also in how you make it past this often emotionally charged experience. You want someone you can trust, is serious about helping you and actually listens when you speak.
Before hiring a family attorney, keep the following in mind:
Personal Chemistry
Your attorney will be your best friend throughout your case. You may have to reveal delicate or embarrassing details about your life. You’ll also be talking to them a lot, and you’ll have to understand what they tell you about the approach that they will take or when they answer any questions you may have.
Hence, finding a lawyer you trust is vital. Although a law firm’s website and other materials make a great start, don’t decide mainly on them. Instead, talk to every lawyer you’re considering. Ask them how much experience they have with cases like yours. Ask them anything and get a feel for how they explain things. Do they sound like your calculus professor? Very importantly, are you connecting on a personal level? You don’t have to be best friends, but you need that connection.
Personal Recommendations
Asking for referrals from friends, relatives, and colleagues is a good way to gather information about family lawyers in your area. That lawyer guides that you can find online can also lead you to some good prospects, as will exploring different law firm websites and reviews. However, no matter the source of your initial information, make sure you speak to the attorney before actually deciding to hire them. Remember, every case is unique. What worked for other people may not always work for you, and vice-versa.
Area of Specialty
Back then, lawyers would work on any cases they were confronted with, from DUI’s to real estate and so on. Thankfully, an increasing number of lawyers are now specializing in certain fields, such as family law. You wouldn’t see a GP for a heart problem, would you? Working with a specialist is almost always better than hiring a generalist, especially when it comes to sensitive matters such as divorce, child custody, and other family law issues.
Also, bear in mind that family law cases settle out of court, but sometimes, they actually end up right there. You need a lawyer who will be able to provide excellent representation either way. Ask your prospective attorney about their training and experience with family law negotiations, mediation, and collaborative law and whether they are ready to take your case to court if necessary.
Fee Transparency
Definitely, you have to be able to get a very clear picture of how much hiring a lawyer would cost you. Find out if you need to pay hourly or a flat rate, or how much your total costs will likely amount to. The idea is to know everything from the beginning to avoid surprises later on.
Apparently, finding the right family lawyer is not always easy, and the only way of knowing who’s the best is to consider several candidates and make comparisons.