things to look out for when hiring a family practice lawyer

• Compassion and empathy for your situation. You’d demand professionalism from any lawyer, but you should look for something extra for cases under family law. ...
• A clear payment structure for your legal fees. The battle ahead will be a costly one, and it may take months or even years to settle. ...
• Experience in the legal practice area of family law. If you went to the hospital for a serious heart condition, you would only trust a specialist to know what to ...
• Sound perspective on what your case actually needs. Every case filed in the family courts should have a concrete end goal behind it—either to divorce a former partner, to gain ...
• Accessibility and communicativeness. These twin qualities are essential for a family lawyer, considering that you may need to keep in contact with them for a long period. ...

Full Answer

What do family lawyers do?

Family lawyers also have plenty of experience of everything from going through court proceedings to drafting documents and meeting with other lawyers. They can walk you through these processes, help you know what to expect, and help you feel more confident.

Is a family lawyer created equal?

As any family law guide will tell you, not all family lawyers are created equal. When you starting trying to find a family lawyer, it’s important to know what to look for. Otherwise, you could end up hiring someone who’s not equipped to handle your case.

1.CHOOSING THE RIGHT LAWYER

There are a lot of lawyers out there, but how do you find one that best suits your needs? Hiring the right lawyer will make a drastic difference in the way a case is handled. A lawyer with limited experience can end up missing small details that could lead to serious problems.

2. EXPERIENCE

Every legal case varies. Therefore, it pays to search for a lawyer with the right kind of experience. It is vital to seek out a lawyer with the most experience related to your case. Not only will the lawyer have a thorough understanding of the law, but they will also have experience with the local court system.

3. LEGAL FEES

The legal process can be expensive. When you are seeking a lawyer, it is important to establish a price range that suits your needs. Compare the costs of flat-rate and hourly billing to determine which is best for you. Hourly rates are the most common type of fee. Depending on a lawyer’s experience and location, an hourly rate can vary quite a bit.

4. AVAILABILITY

A lawyer that is focused on their clients will keep in touch and advise them about the different phases of the case. A lawyer who is generally unavailable or hard to reach is a waste of money. Many lawyers are notoriously difficult to reach. Sometimes emergency situations arise which require legal assistance immediately.

5. FLEXIBILITY

Flexibility is another important element. When working with a lawyer it is crucial to find out how flexible the lawyer is with your schedule.

6. CREDIBILITY

To find a lawyer you can trust, find out what people think about them. If a lawyer is well- respected by other lawyers, it is a good sign they are trustworthy. Check customer reviews of the lawyer to find out how other people felt about the process.

7. NEGOTIATION STYLE

Lawyers are human, just like you, which means they all possess their own personality traits. A blunt, aggressive lawyer may be ideal for a felony case in criminal court, but you may want a compassionate, likeable lawyer to handle your custody case.

Is it cheap to hire an attorney?

Hiring an attorney won’t be cheap on your wallet no matter where you go but you still want to know what price range you’ll be looking at. You don’t want to get slapped with a surprise fee for travel or court costs later.

How long does it take for a lawyer to call you back?

At the very least, your lawyer should be able to call you back when they miss your call or answer an email within 24 hours.

What happens when you go through custody?

When you’re going through a custody case or divorce your emotions will be heightened. You may make decisions that are unreasonable and your lawyer will tell you this if you ask.

What to do if you are stuck in custody?

If you’re getting a divorce or are stuck in the middle of a custody case, you’re going to need the best person to represent you. The only way you’re going to be able to get the best family court lawyer is to ask the right questions. Family matters can already be emotional.

Who is Katherine Bishop?

Katherine Bishop is a staff writer for Attorney at Law Magazine. She has been a writer with the publication for more than four years. She also writes for Real Estate Agent Magazine.