How to Hire a Great Family Law Attorney: Tip 1
First of all, do not hire the very first attorney you meet with – meet with several attorneys and interview them. If I were looking for an attorney myself, I would start out by asking my friends, colleagues, and relatives for referrals. Word of mouth reputation is very valuable. If asking friends and colleagues does not work out, check out Avvo.com. Look at both attorney credentials and client reviews. I would then interview 3-5 attorneys to find one that is a good fit for you.
How to Hire a Great Family Law Attorney: Tip 2
Second, you should hire an experienced attorney. I recommend at least 10 years of experience handling family law cases is a must. This is a sufficient amount of time to deal with a wide variety of family law cases. A younger attorney with a lesser hourly rate may seem tempting, but in the end, the small saving will not be worth it.
How to Hire a Great Family Law Attorney: Tip 3
Third, make sure that your attorney has trial experience. Although it is desirable to settle your case – and most likely your case will settle – you need to have an attorney who will take your case to trial if necessary. Your attorney would then be familiar with the judges and procedures in your jurisdiction and be comfortable around the courtroom.
How to Hire a Great Family Law Attorney: Tip 4
Fourth, obviously hire someone who focuses primarily on family law. There are some attorneys who handle all kinds of cases (so-called generalists). If you are all over the map with your practice you cannot keep current with the case and developments in your field. So find someone who focuses on family law.
How to Hire a Great Family Law Attorney: Tip 5
Finally, hire someone you are comfortable with. Depending on your case, you may end up communicating a lot with your attorney and spending a lot of time with them. You should hire someone who to you appears confident and experienced, but also someone who listens to you and with whom you have good chemistry. Once you hire them for your case, you should feel comfortable talking to them, questioning them, and even challenging them. Your work with your attorney should be about teamwork and collaboration, not dictatorship by either one of you.
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