With a wide range of lawyers offering their services to local communities across Ontario, partnering with the right lawyers to assist you with your legal concerns can be a daunting undertaking. Fortunately, with a little preparation, your search can be easily streamlined, helping you find the right family law specialist that can assist with your specific situation.
Below we highlight some tips that can aid you in the process of finding the ideal family law specialist.
Ask for recommendations from people that had similar situations
Many individuals in your social circle may have a lawyer that they are confident recommending, however not all lawyers are able to assist with family law cases. Your friend who recently won a personal injury lawsuit may highly recommend the lawyer they used, however, their lawyer’s specialty will not match your need. Ask friends or family that have been through similar situations for recommendations, and if you do not know of anyone that has experienced a situation such as yours ask if they know anyone that has gone through a similar situation. Finally, if you have worked with a lawyer in the past with other legal concerns, such as buying a home or the preparation of a will, ask if they have anyone in their firm that can assist you or if they any recommendations.
Have an end result in mind
When you ask friends and family for lawyer suggestions, you will almost certainly receive some unsolicited advice. Take a step back and spend some time imagining the best possible result for your circumstance and what you would like the final outcome to be. If your objective is to keep things peaceful throughout your separation or divorce, you generally do not want to choose a lawyer with a reputation for being a bulldog or having an aggressive demeanor. You may also wish to consult with a family lawyer about options that may provide a faster and smoother resolution, such as collaborative family law, or mediation.
Complete a general search online
Online search engines, in general, arrange and recommend businesses based on geographic region and relevance to your search, it is no different for family law practices. Once you have discovered a few family law specialists in your area, review their websites to determine whether they are engaging and give relevant information and if their scope of practice covers your situation. Examine their online reviews, even though they may not give a full picture of a specialist’s reputation, the reviews will provide some helpful information about how other people have interacted with this lawyer and their experiences. Once you have compiled a list of lawyers you are interested in, you can request an initial consultation to see if they are the right fit for you.
Search for experience and expertise
Experience is important in most industries, and when it comes to legal matters situations can get complicated. The more experience your lawyer has, the greater their understanding of the law and the legal procedures. Experience is critical to ensuring that they can provide you with the greatest legal counsel at every step of your situation. Experience also means that your family law specialist will be aware of the legal rules that may apply to your case, in your area.
Review the legal practice’s website to see how long they have been practicing family law in your area. Similarly, complete a search for the lawyer to get a better understanding of their legal background and experience.
Focus on the needs of your children
For families with children, it is important that your lawyer also considers what is best for your children during and after your separation/divorce. Your lawyer should help explain your responsibilities and rights when it comes to access and decision-making. Your lawyer will also help you overcome any fears associated with potentially losing your children in proceedings.
During your initial consultation with your lawyer, be open about your family situation, and don’t be afraid to ask how they will help protect your rights as a parent as well as taking care of your children’s needs. A full plan isn’t needed at this stage, but ensuring that they are considering your children’s needs from the beginning is important.
Select a family lawyer who is prepared to help you in mediation
Even if you choose to resolve your divorce through mediation, you will still require the assistance of a family lawyer. This is especially true if your divorce mediation fails or just addresses your disputes partially. Many family law specialists recognize the benefits of mediation and will work with you to reach a beneficial settlement through mediation. Your lawyer will be able to explain the numerous technical and legal issues of mediation. Your family lawyer will be able to walk you through any intricacies that may arise.
Make sure you are comfortable with the lawyer you partner with
Finding the right family law specialist can be time-consuming and even frustrating at times, it is important that you don’t make a hasty decision. After getting recommendations from family and friends and completing your own search online to help narrow down the candidates, it is advised to have a one-on-one consultation with each potential lawyer to gauge if they are a fit. This ultimately comes down to how comfortable you are with the lawyer and how they make you feel.
Even if a lawyer has been referred by a trusted friend and has great reviews, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are the right person for your situation. You must be comfortable with the lawyer you partner with and fully trust that they have your best interest in mind. In most cases, this comes down to how they make you feel after your initial interaction.
At Sage Law Group we know that dealing with family issues can be stressful and draining, we are here and ready to provide professional, effective, and sympathetic legal representation in Barrie and South Eastern Ontario. Please give us a call today 705-735-0003 and let us help you.