How to Hire a Divorce Lawyer
You have been married for several years. You have a home, a beautiful family, and everything is going seemingly well. All of a sudden, your spouse wants a divorce. Your spouse has hired a lawyer and has filed paperwork with the court. What do you do?
If you are like most people, you open your internet browser and type in a search for something like “divorce lawyer near me.” You are inundated with various advertisements, legal websites and law firm pages. How do you know which lawyer to call? Better yet, how do you know which lawyer to hire? Here are some tips for finding the right lawyer for you:
- Decide what kind of lawyer you want.
There are literally thousands of divorce lawyers in the metropolitan-Atlanta area alone. Of those, each one is different. They come with different levels of background, different skill sets and levels of experience, and different personalities. Some people want to hire a lawyer that is a “pit bull” or will “destroy the other party.” If that is your prerogative, there are plenty of lawyers out there who will take that approach and gladly charge you the enormous cost to do so. Some people want to spend as little money as possible, and those lawyers are out there, too. They may offer a low flat fee, a low retainer, or a low hourly rate. As with most things, you get what you pay for. Some people want a lawyer who is collaborative and likes to settle cases. Some want a lawyer who will settle a case, but is capable of litigating the case in court if necessary. Others want a male, a female, or a lawyer of a certain race or religion. Some people want a lawyer who only practices in their respective county, and others want a lawyer from outside the county.
Whatever the case may be, you need to decide what is important to you. Maybe you need more handholding than an average person. Maybe you need someone who is brutally honest and will not “tell you what you want to hear.” Choosing a lawyer creates an important relationship you will have throughout an incredibly stressful process. More importantly, be honest with your lawyer about what you need. I had a client tell me once, “I need handholding. I need you to explain everything in granular detail.” That allowed me to make adjustments so that client felt at ease. I have had other clients who ask me not to contact them unless something is urgent. I do not bother those clients with mundane details. Whatever you need, make sure you have that conversation with any lawyers you interview so you both can have managed expectations.
- Don’t believe everything you read.
The internet is replete with false information, and that is not specific to family law or lawyers in general. When you research a potential lawyer, you will likely find a host of online reviews. Some will be good, and some will be bad. However, do not believe everything you read (whether it is good or bad). Some websites rate lawyers based on how much that lawyer pays for advertisements or how much the lawyer contributes to the website (such as Avvo.com). Lawyers can pay additional money to give their law firm websites higher priority in a Google search so theirs is the first firm you see (in fact, some of the best law firms in town will not show up in the first several pages of an online search because they do not need the internet marketing). Lawyers may have awards that are given out by seemingly important organizations. What potential clients do not know is many of these awards can be bought or obtained with the lawyer’s friends and co-workers “voting” for the lawyer. If awards are important to you, then ask questions and understand what these designations mean.
Similarly, lawyers can have a “bad review” based on one comment from a person who may not even have been a client. Opposing parties can leave online reviews for a lawyer or put out false or misleading information to sabotage that lawyer’s reputation (in which case, it usually means the lawyer did a good job for that party’s ex-spouse). No good lawyer has made a friend out of every opposing party. Understand who is writing the review and what his or her motive may have been. If you have questions about a bad review, ask the lawyer. There will always be more to the story, which can usually be found in online pleadings with the court. Then, you can decide for yourself.
To avoid false and misleading information, do your research. Ask your friends and co-workers if they know anyone who has been through a divorce and how their experience was. Ask if their lawyer was responsive, good in court, and prepared. Ask if the party felt at ease when he or she asked the lawyer questions. The best source of referrals for lawyers is usually former clients—not Google. Find out who you are really hiring by asking people who have been through the process.
- Make sure you understand who will be handling your case.
Many lawyers have assistance within their firms in handling your case. It is important for you to understand who will actually be handling your case. There are several “large firms” in Atlanta (most lawyers have worked for one), where a client hires a specific person only to be slowly outsourced to an associate attorney. This is fine, and a totally common practice, if you are comfortable with it. Having a trusting relationship with your lawyer is critical. If you do not meet the person who will actually be handling your case in court until a few days before, you are likely to feel concerned and uncomfortable by this “bait and switch.” If the lawyer you hire will not be handling your case personally, he or she should tell you. You should know which associate attorney will be handling the case and fully understand your lawyer’s level of involvement. If you find out quickly that will not be the case, you need to have a serious discussion with your lawyer and consider your options.
If you are unhappy with your lawyer’s service, say something. Clients have a variety of wants and needs which are sometimes unknown to the lawyer. So, be honest, have an open line of communication, and you will have much more comfort throughout the process.
- Have an in-person meeting.
Because of the close working relationship you may have with your lawyer, building rapport is crucial. You need to have confidence in your lawyer and feel comfortable he/she understands what is important to you and your case. This is difficult over the phone. COVID-19 has changed the practice of law and our ability to meet with prospective clients in-person. However, to the extent you can, try to have a face-to-face meeting with your lawyer to make sure you “click.” This may sound silly but having the ability to connect with your lawyer will impact your level of trust and confidence in his/her representation.
If you have questions about hiring a lawyer, we are glad to walk you through the process and discuss these tips in more detail. We will always be honest and forthcoming with you about your options.