- Does the county have an independent family law division of judges familiar with dissolution law, or is there a chance that a judge with unknown family law experience will hear a motion or trial? Website design By BotEap.com
- Are there one or two appraisers or auction houses in the geographic area that do most of the furniture appraisal in dissolution cases? Website design By BotEap.com
- In this county, do all judges refer custody disputes to mental health professionals to prepare a recommendation to the court? Website design By BotEap.com
- Is mediation of custody disputes confidential or will the mediator disclose my statements to the judge? Website design By BotEap.com
- If mediation fails, is the mediator the person who makes a custody recommendation to the court? Website design By BotEap.com
- Is the attorney a certified specialist in family law? This does not mean that the lawyer is excellent. But it is something to keep in mind. It means the attorney has passed a family law exam and must take a certain number of family law continuing education classes each year. Website design By BotEap.com
- Is the attorney rated by Martindale-Hubbell? An AV rating is the highest possible and only 5 percent of American attorneys have the rating. It is an indication of the highest legal skill and ethical conduct. Website design By BotEap.com
- Even more important is how many divorce cases the attorney handles. Are you an “amateur”? Is he offering to take the case as a favor for you or a friend? They are not good signs. Website design By BotEap.com
- Does the firm handle thousands of cases? It’s a divorce factory. It is not a good sign. Your case rarely gets the attention it wants if the firm is very large or handles many cases. Most of the work is done by paralegals or junior attorneys. Website design By BotEap.com
- Does the firm handle celebrities and billionaires? At first glance, you might assume that hiring a divorce firm that works for “stars” or high net worth individuals will guarantee excellent representation. That is also true if you are a star or a millionaire. If not, you’ll just be a number. Remember with star divorce attorneys, your importance to the firm decreases significantly if you are not a star or wealthy. Website design By BotEap.com
- Will the attorney send you copies of all letters sent and received from opposing counsel, and copies of all pleadings filed in court? (My office sends these documents as .pdf files via email to make it easier for the client to store them.) You want this so you can stay up to date on the status of your case. Website design By BotEap.com
- Will the attorney personally return calls on substantive issues? If you call to confirm a hearing date or location, you do not need to speak to your attorney, but if you have any questions about the matter, it is best to speak to the attorney(s) working on the case. Website design By BotEap.com
- What attorneys other than the one you are interviewing will work on your case? If your spouse files an emergency motion, for example (known as an ex parte motion) and your attorney has a conflicting appointment, who will accompany you to court? Website design By BotEap.com
- Will you be charged for secretarial time? (Not in our office. I think this practice is very unfair to a client. Also beware of being charged for a paralegal’s time. A paralegal is not a lawyer. Usually just an experienced secretary Paying for paralegal time is something you may not want to do.) Website design By BotEap.com
- Will the attorney be willing to suggest a settlement conference to opposing counsel as soon as possible? Usually after you and your spouse have made your financial data available. Will the attorney be willing to commit to a face-to-face settlement conference if your spouse’s attorney agrees? (Obviously, the more you can agree on, the less there will be to fight and the less traumatic, expensive, and time-consuming your divorce will be.) Website design By BotEap.com
- If your spouse already has an attorney, ask if the attorney is familiar with the attorney. Has the attorney worked with the other attorney before? Does the spouse’s attorney normally make reasonable efforts to resolve the case?
Get the Best Divorce Lawyer for Your Case by Asking These Interview Questions
Website design By BotEap.comHiring the largest law firm you can afford is not always in your best interest. When interviewing divorce attorneys, ask the questions below about the person’s qualifications and how cases are handled at the firm to ensure that you and your case receive the attention and effort you need for the best results. I suggest you interview two or three attorneys. More if you are not comfortable with those with whom you have spoken. Some good lawyers don’t. It is probably worth paying a modest amount for an initial consultation to select the right attorney for you. Of course you need a good lawyer. The real issue is whether your attorney will put your best interests first or line their pockets unnecessarily at the expense of you and your spouse. You need an attorney who will work hard to get you the best possible results. Using the checklist below will help you determine if the person is a lawyer you can count on.