Choosing an Attorney That’s Right for You
Even if your instance appears pretty transparent, go to somebody who has managed family law cases in the past. You don’t need an lawyer who works solely in that field, whose fees might be very high. But you do want somebody who acknowledges which papers have to be filed in which courthouse and who can take your suit to trial if need be. Some very competent family lawyers will tell you from the start that they do not go to court. They might be very good negotiators, but if your case doesn’t settle, they will recommend another attorney, either in their firm or at another, to take over the case. For some people, that’s fine. Others prefer to have an attorney who will go the distance. Make sure you ask these questions and be prepared to walk out if they don’t satisfy your needs.When you call the attorney, ask whether there is a fee for the introductory consultation. Don’t be shy. Some lawyers will see you for free; others will charge their usual hourly rate. The reasoning: they’ve already done work on your behalf (albeit during the consultation) by collecting the background information they need to begin. Others only bill you if they take your case. Still others bill by the task: so much for a finished separation agreement, so much for help in writing a motion, and so on.Your First Group MeetingWhen you’re with an lawyer for the first time, he or she will ask you for some background information about your state of affairs. You should be told, briefly, how the laws work in your state and what that will mean for your own case. The attorney can also tell you which court will handle your case. Knowing this could determine your strategy in resolving your caseis it helpful to drag out the custody or to end it quickly?Fees and ChargingDuring this first interview, the attorney should also explain his or her fees. Do they take a retainera lump-sum paymentup front? That practice is common. As the lawyer works on your case, they subtract an amount equal to their hourly rate from the sum you have prepaid. Other lawyers do not take a retainer and simply bill you every month as the case moves along. Some attorneys require that a cushion remain in the retainer until the case is finished.
