Finding a lawyer that specializes in family law for your child custody case can be as simple as completing a Google search, however, finding the right family law lawyer for your child custody case can be a little more difficult. Search tools may say a particular custody lawyer is the best in your general area but that does not mean that they will be the best match for you. Choosing the right lawyer for your case is more about finding the right individual that will best suit your situation and less about finding their reviews.
Here are some tips to help you choose the best family law lawyer for your custody case:
Ask friends and family if they have any recommendations
A recommendation from an individual you trust is a great way to find a lawyer for your child custody case. Friends who have had positive experiences with a particular lawyer and are confident enough to recommend them is a good sign that your experience with the same lawyer will more than likely be a good one. At the least, you should sit down and discuss your case with a recommended lawyer to see if there is a good fit.
Accept recommendations, but do your due diligence
Asking friends, family members and co-workers for recommendations is a great way to collect initial information about a potential lawyer to partner with. No matter who provides the recommendation, it is important to speak with the lawyer directly before making your decision. This is because every family and every family law case is unique, if a lawyer meshed with and worked well with one family, it does not mean that you are guaranteed the same result. Your needs may be different from the needs of your friends and co-workers, even if they faced a similar situation.
Search online
In general, online search tools will organize and recommend lawyers based on their practice specialty and location. Once you have identified a few potential lawyers in your area, visit their website and analyze them to see if three is an initial fit and if they provide useful information.
While internet reviews may not provide a complete overview of a lawyer’s reputation, they can provide useful insights into other people’s interactions with the same individual. Make sure the lawyers you plan to meet with have a clean record, as it is an important step in screening the most compatible lawyers. Once you have a list of lawyers, you can move on to the next step, which is setting up an introductory consultation.
Ask for a preliminary consultation
When contacting a law firm to talk with a prospective lawyer, be as specific as possible about your needs. Ask questions about how to protect your legal rights and questions regarding your situation. Based on this consultation both you and the lawyer can determine if it would be a good fit for one another.
While speaking to a prospective lawyer, keep in mind some of these issues:
- Is your personality compatible with theirs? Your case will be more challenging if you and your lawyer do not get along, regardless of how experienced they are with family law.
- Communication and promptness are essential for creating a line of contact with a lawyer. Inquire with each lawyer about how to reach them and how long it will take for them to respond. Based on this inquiry, if they have poor communication such as excessive delays or even “radio silence”, it would be best to search for another attorney. It is crucial to find a lawyer who is committed to keeping in touch on regular bases.
Choose your lawyer, not a law firm
The most important relationship is not between the law firm and the client, but between the lawyer and the client. Just because a law firm has extensive experience in family law and a good reputation, does not mean that every lawyer at the firm has the same experience and reputation. Seek out a relationship with an individual lawyer in a firm and ask them questions such as: “Will you be handling my case?” and “will there be anyone else I will be consulting with?” If you have a good rapport with the lawyer you have your consultation with, but will ultimately not be working with them directly, you might want to ask to meet with the associate who will be handling your case.
Look for expertise and experience
Even though years of experience doesn’t always dictate ability, it is still recommended to partner with a lawyer that specializes in family law and has several years of experience. Your legal rights are at stake in your case. You cannot risk having an inexperienced lawyer represent you in court. Lawyers who practice little or no family law should be avoided regardless of the number of years that they have been practicing. It used to be common for lawyers to handle a wide array of cases. However, lawyers are now focusing their practice to more specific fields, such as family law. Tailoring to a specific section of law helps lawyers better understand the ins and outs of their area of practice and should be valued over lawyers who practice a wide variety of law fields.
Trust your instincts
At some point, with all the research, referrals, and interviews, you will need to make a decision, trust your instinct when hiring a lawyer for your family law case. You should feel at ease with your lawyer and if you feel odd or do not fully feel comfortable with a lawyer, you should move on and keep searching. Even in the case that a lawyer comes highly recommended or previously achieved excellent results for others. The most vital factor in selecting the right family law lawyer is that you trust them and feel comfortable with their approach.
Choosing the best family law lawyer for your custody case can seem like an overwhelming task. From an outside perspective, you are essentially partnering with someone that will fight for your rights. At Sage Law Group we offer comprehensive family law services in Barrie and South Eastern Ontario, our team is here to assist you with any of your family law needs. Please give us a call today 705-735-0003 and let us help you.
