Finding the correct legal representation is vital to achieving the best possible outcome from a divorce case.
A divorce lawyer will work with you throughout the entire process, providing legal guidance, and fighting on your behalf should the case go to court.
Divorce cases can have a major impact on the future of you and your family, so finding the correct lawyer is not something that should be taken lightly.
However, with so many different firms offering legal services, it can be difficult to know where to start when looking for a divorce attorney.
To make the process easier, consider following this step-by-step guide to ensure that you find the perfect divorce lawyer for your needs.
Step 1 – Make a List
Before you can begin to research individual lawyers you need a shortlist of candidates as there will be countless possible options in your area and going through them all one by one is simply not viable.
You should never choose a lawyer based purely on the recommendation of one individual but seeking referrals from family and friends is a good way to start building a list of possibilities.
A quick web search of lawyers in the local area and a look at their reviews or testimonies from previous clients on their website is another useful method of narrowing down your search.
Law is a very broad subject and even divorce lawyers will have their own areas of expertise.
By checking websites to see what each lawyer specialises in, you will be able to match their experience with your needs.
By taking this approach you should be able to quickly narrow down your search to just 2 or 3 candidates that you are potentially interested in arranging a consultation with.
Step 2 – Prepare
Before your consultation with a potential divorce lawyer, it is worth writing down a few key questions that you want to ask during the meeting.
This will help you to get an idea of what you can expect should you decide to use their services and work out if you will work well together.
Some of the best questions to ask during a divorce lawyer consultation include:
- What is your fee? – It may be worth paying slightly more to obtain the services of a lawyer that you think will do the best job, but there is no point going any further if the expected cost of their legal representation is well outside your budget.
- How much time will you devote to my case? – Divorce is a busy area of law and you should make sure that a lawyer will be able to devote sufficient time to your case to obtain a satisfactory outcome.
- What do you foresee being the best outcome of my case? – If several lawyers give a similar answer to this question, you will be able to set your expectations at a realistic level. If one answer aligns more with your hopes for the case it is a good sign that you will work well together, but make sure they are not just saying what they think you want to hear.
- What is your approach to divorce cases? – Some divorce lawyers will specialise in resolving divorce cases through litigation, whilst others will prefer a more collaborative approach.
- Who else will work on my case? – If some of the work on your case is to be managed by others at the firm as opposed to the divorce lawyer themselves, it is worth getting an idea of their qualifications and how much they will be involved.
Step 3 – Consultation
Once you have your final shortlist of potential divorce lawyers, and decided upon the questions you want to ask, it is time to see what they have to say for themselves and arrange a consultation.
Many lawyers will offer free consultations, whether in the office, or via video/phone call.
You should always check the website for information regarding this however, and not assume that consultation charges will not be imposed, as potential fees can make this phase very pricey, especially if you are considering more than a couple of options.
You may decide that a small fee is more than worth it if you are seriously considering utilising the services of a lawyer.
In some cases, a paid consultation may be more worthwhile as it may be an indication that a lawyer will take the consultation seriously and give a more detailed proposal of how they would proceed with your case.
You should arrange your consultations close together, if possible, to make evaluating and comparing each lawyer an easier task.
Hiring the right divorce lawyer at www.oraclelaw.com is a crucial part of getting the best outcome from a divorce case and having a strategy in place to achieve this can make the whole process a lot easier.
At the end of the day, the decision on which lawyer to choose is yours alone, but hopefully, this guide has given you an idea of how to get started.