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Tips for Choosing a Family Lawyer |
You may want to avoid lawyers who:
- Are general practitioners and don’t specialize in family law
- Have reputations for being aggressive and are disliked by lawyers and judges
- Have less than five years of family law experience
- Represent substantially more men than women
- Take a majority of their clients’ divorce cases to trial
- Won’t go to trial under any circumstances, even if necessary
- Don’t handle child custody and support issues (if applicable)
- Charge hourly fees you can’t afford
- Refuse to use written retainer contracts
- Are confusing and don’t answer questions clearly
- Make you feel uncomfortable
- Has a reputation for being well-liked, respected and successful
- Represents an equal number of men and women or mostly women
- Has five to ten years of family law experience
- Is a family law specialist certified by your state’s bar association
- Has family law trial experience in your city’s courts
- Is familiar with the family law judges and lawyers in your city
- Successfully settles a large number of cases
- Charges reasonable hourly fees you can afford
- Always uses written retainer contracts
- Is a good listener, explains things to you clearly and answers your questions
- Makes you feel comfortable and assured
This article is not legal advice. You should consult an attorney if you have legal questions that relate to your specific divorce.
