Are you searching for a reputable divorce lawyer? Here’s a brief overview of choosing the most suitable attorney for your case.
From the moment you and your spouse agree to get a divorce, you have a lot of difficult decisions in front of you. From custody arrangements to spousal support to the division of your property, every choice you make will weigh on your future. However, there’s one surprising decision that’s often just as crucial as the ones above: who you choose as your divorce lawyer.
Your chosen attorney will help you and your spouse communicate, decide on fair outcomes, and settle arguments. They’ll guide you through every possible legal decision, even when you and your spouse struggle to agree.
For this reason, it’s essential to hire a divorce lawyer you trust to handle every aspect of mediation. Here are a few things to consider as you weigh your options.
Verify Their Experience
Family law is complex. Even if you believe you and your spouse will have few disagreements during mediation, you may find yourselves becoming more combative while discussing legal nuances. After all, every agreement you come to will impact your future.
For this reason, you should ensure that your chosen mediator’s practice areas include both mediation and divorce. Consider asking what percentage of the firm’s cases involve this type of family law. High percentages are always ideal.
Effective family and divorce lawyers will have extensive experience in mediation. This gives them the skills to ease any negotiations and disagreements that crop up between couples.
In addition, family lawyers should seek ongoing education in mediation. Many experts take additional courses in dispute resolution, formal mediation, child development, and other related areas. Ask your prospective lawyer if they have any additional expertise or education that makes them an ideal fit for this job.
Ask for Referrals
If you know anyone who has had to hire a divorce lawyer in the past, ask them for advice. Recommendations from friends, family members, and even coworkers can be invaluable. Even someone who wasn’t happy with their own lawyer during a divorce might think their spouse’s lawyer did a good job.
In addition, if you and your spouse are seeing a marriage counselor, they may have good advice about finding a mediator. You can also often get good advice from other attorneys you know, even if they don’t practice family law. Your local courthouse or bar association may also have a list of lawyers who focus on mediation.
Check Their Reviews
Next, read through the lawyer’s reviews. Many lawyers will make this easy by gathering reviews and testimonials right on their website. Checking these can give you an idea of what to expect if you partner with the lawyer in question.
Look for signs of client satisfaction. Would most past clients recommend this lawyer to others?
Negative reviews can be telling as well. Though you should take them with a grain of salt, a pattern of complaints around the same topic should be a red flag.
In addition, don’t forget to check for reviews on third-party sites. Places like Google, Facebook, and Yelp are good places to start. You can also find lawyer-specific sites for more thorough research.
Checking these third-party sites can give you a more objective view of the lawyer’s reputation.
Consider Their Pricing
For many people, a divorce attorney’s pricing is one of the biggest factors to consider.
Most law firms don’t offer pricing details on their website, as every case is unique. In addition, different lawyers can charge in several ways. For this reason, you’ll have to contact the firm with specifics on your needs.
Often, divorce lawyers will charge customers by the hour, though some will also charge in half-hour or quarter-hour increments. This can make it difficult for couples to understand how much their mediation will cost. Without knowing how long your sessions will take, it can be hard to budget.
That’s why we recommend working with a firm that offers mediation for a flat fee. This makes it easy to understand up front how much you’ll have to pay.
Visit Their Firm
One of the best tips for deciding whether a divorce attorney is a good fit is to visit their law firm. Most firms offer free consultations that make this easy.
Meeting a divorce lawyer and their team can help you understand whether they’re a good match for your personality. Though divorce can take months, depending on the situation, mediation will often take just a few hours. However, you’ll often have to come back for several sessions, and you’ll have to work closely with the lawyer and their team during that time.
As a result, your goal should be to choose someone who will be understanding and compassionate when discussions get intense. Pay attention to a lawyer’s personality during your first meeting, and decide whether you feel you can trust them to listen and guide you in the future. Don’t hire someone whose personality you wouldn’t like under other circumstances!
Visiting a lawyer’s firm also allows you to meet any other staff members available to you. At Johnson/Turner Legal, for example, our clients will have support from a divorce mediation lawyer, two paralegals, a client engagement specialist, and a life coach. Meeting the entire team can help you feel more comfortable with your decision.
Last, visiting your prospective lawyer gives you a great opportunity to ask questions. Here are a few things you may want to ask about:
- How long have you been handling mediation?
- How many cases have you handled?
- How will you communicate with me?
- Can I sign and pay online?
- Will documents be available electronically?
- Can I video or phone conference in if I can’t make it?
- What do your fees include?
If you’ve had trouble finding information on any of the other points on this list, now is the time to follow up!
Hire the Right Divorce Lawyer
Going through mediation is never easy, but the right divorce lawyer can facilitate the process and make it less overwhelming. With the right attorney’s expert legal guidance and conflict resolution skills, you and your spouse can set a solid foundation for your future.
As you weigh your options, don’t forget that our team at Johnson/Turner Legal is here to help. We’ll be happy to guide you and your spouse through your mediation. To learn more, contact us today.
