14 Important Points To Consider When Hiring A Family Law Attorney
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Hiring the right family
law attorney is one of the most important decisions you make during your
divorce. You do not want to hire the wrong lawyer because it is difficult,
time-consuming and expensive to change lawyers. Here are 14 important points to
consider before you hire a family
law attorney:
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Choose an attorney who will go to court, if
necessary. Does this lawyer regularly appear in court? An attorney who is
familiar with the court house and the local rules and procedures used by the
judges has a distinct advantage over the lawyer who does not have this
information.
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Choose an attorney you trust. Nothing is more
important in a lawyer/client relationship than having a lawyer you can depend
on.
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Choose an attorney who is an authority in family
law. You want a lawyer who is a respected source of information — one who has
dedicated his practice to helping people understand divorce and family law.
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Choose an attorney who provides excellent service. Anything less
is not acceptable. Do you feel that the lawyer wants to provide you with the
help you need? Or, do you get the impression that he is looking for bigger fish
to fry and that you are just a small fish in the ocean?
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Choose an attorney you can reach by telephone and
email. Does your lawyer get back to you promptly? Can you reach your attorney
after hours if needed? Some lawyers give clients a cell phone number to call
after hours or an email address. Ask the lawyer if he will respond promptly to
your needs.
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Choose a lawyer who will give you close, personal
attention. Does the lawyer have so many clients that he cannot provide you
with the personal care you deserve? Does the lawyer you’re considering work on
your case personally – or does he delegate your case to a junior associate?
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Choose a lawyer who welcomes your questions. You want a
lawyer who schedules phone calls and meetings allowing enough time to answer
all of your questions and concerns.
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Choose a lawyer who offers different billing
options. Does your lawyer give you the choice of paying a flat fee or being
billed by the hour? Explore whether the lawyer will give you one or more
options so you can decide which one is right for you.
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Choose a lawyer who charges fair fees. If the lawyer’s fee
is too low, he may not be doing all he can to represent you properly. Make sure
the value you’re receiving is at least equal to the fee you’re paying.
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Choose a lawyer who cares about you. You can
easily tell by how you interact with the lawyer. Does he watch the clock while
talking with you? Does he seem to understand your problems concerns? Or is he
more concerned with telling you about himself?
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Choose a lawyer you’re comfortable with. You don’t
want a lawyer whose ego is so big that it barely fits into the room?
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Choose a lawyer who has roots in the
community. This attorney cares about his reputation and is more likely to be
available in the future when you need help.
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Choose a lawyer who limits his practice to family
law. If you don’t choose a lawyer who has the in-depth knowledge you
need, you aren’t likely to get the result you want.
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Choose a lawyer who offers free initial
consultations. Shouldn’t you be able to talk with the lawyer for free before you decide
whether to hire him?
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