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Choosing the Right
Lawyer
The right lawyer
can make a real difference both in the outcome of your
divorce and how you make it through the very
emotional process. You want a trusting relationship.
You want a lawyer who is serious about your case and
listens to your needs. You want a lawyer who moves
your case forward to conclusion. Here are some tips
on choosing the right lawyer.
Pick a lawyer, not a
law firm.
The most important
relationship is not between the law firm and the
client, but between the law partner and a client.
Seek out a relationship with an individual partner
in a firm as your lawyer. Never have a relationship
with a law firm -- have a relationship with a
lawyer. Make it that partner's responsibility to
manage your case. If your case is passed off to an
associate, demand an explanation and demand to know
the associate's experience. If the law partner that
drew you to the law firm wants to pass off your case
to an associate, then you should be thinking about
another firm. Ask the lawyer you meet with this
question: "Will you be handling my case?"
Ask yourself: "Do I
like this lawyer?"
You must be able to get
along with your lawyer. The initial interview is as
much about deciding if you can have a working
relationship with your attorney as it is finding out
about how the law applies to your case. If the
lawyer you are meeting with is abrasive, distracted,
disorganized, or acts in any other way that does not
give you confidence, consider how you will feel
later on in the case if you chose this lawyer.
Demand expertise and
experience.
It used to be common
for layers to handle all manner of cases from
divorce to traffic to real estate. More and more
lawyers are limiting their practice to specific
fields, including family law. You would not go to a
general practitioner for open heart surgery, and you
should be very hesitant about going to a lawyer who
does not limit his or her practice to family law
matters if you need a divorce.
Fees: Don't give
your lawyer a blank check.
You should be able to
get a very good idea of the cost of your case from
your lawyer. Ask if there is an option for a flat
fee so you will know what the case will cost you.
Unless a lawyer can offer you a flat fee option, you
have no way of knowing how much legal representation
will cost.
Settlement and
litigation.
Settlement and
litigation are two sides of the same coin. Most
family law cases settle out of court. Some do not.
You need a lawyer that is equally comfortable in
settlement negotiations and the court room. Ask your
lawyer what training and experience he or she has
had in family law negotiations, mediation, and
collaborative law. Ask your lawyer if he or she has
the experience to handle your case in court should
attempts at settlement fail.
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