| 1. |
Talk to friends and
family. Ask about attorneys they would recommend or avoid. Contact
attorneys you have worked with and liked. Ask whether they handle
divorce cases. If they do not, ask for a referral to an attorney who
does. |
| |
| 2. |
Call your county
and state bar associations. Many have lawyer referral programs and can
refer you to an attorney in your area who is experienced in the type of
case you are involved with. |
| |
| 3. |
Make a list of what
you are looking for in an attorney. Do you prefer your lawyer to be a
man or woman, young or old? Do you want someone who will work to settle
your case or someone who will fight to the end? |
| |
| 4. |
Schedule free
consultations with attorneys you have been referred to. Determine
whether you feel comfortable with them and trust them. |
| |
| 5. |
Find out the
answers to the following questions when you meet with any attorney.
What will the fee be? Can you pay in installments? What kind of outcome
does he or she expect? How often will he or she be in contact? How
quickly are phone calls returned? If the attorney is not in the office,
is there someone else who can handle emergencies and urgent questions? |
| |
| 6. |
Look around the
office when you are there. Is there a receptionist, and is he or she
pleasant? You will be dealing with this person a lot, so make sure he
or she is helpful. Does the office seem professional? Is it
disorganized? Is it overly busy? |
| |
| 7. |
Find out how
experienced each attorney is by asking how many divorce cases he or she
has handled. |
| |
| 8. |
Request references.
If you were not referred to the attorney by someone you know and trust,
ask for the names of past or current clients you may call for
references. The attorney will be able to give you this information only
with the clients' consent. Many attorneys may be insulted by this
request, but you wouldn't hire a babysitter without references, so why
would you hire any attorney without them? |
